These are the 10 best U.S. cities for homebuyers right now

While it’s tempting to identify culprits that help explain the dismal state of the housing market—Boomers, say, or institutional investors—some metro areas are quietly crafting policies that ensure housing remains affordable. Local housing policy, particularly related to zoning and permitting, is a major factor that distinguishes those metro areas that rank highly for affordability from those that don’t. That’s one of the takeaways from a new report from Realtor.com, which graded the 100 largest metropolitan areas based on whether homes are affordable for local earners and whether there’s enough new construction to meet future demand. Des Moines, Iowa topped the ranking, followed by Raleigh, North Carolina—the only two metro areas to receive an “A+” grade from the Austin-based real estate site. The remaining eight metro areas that scored an “A” were likewise located in the Midwest and South, reflecting what’s now become a clear geographic split in the nation’s housing market. More homebuilding is key to improving affordability in a lasting way, according to Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “The metros at the top of these rankings show that buyers benefit most when co…