Why does owner financing work better in some the U.S. cities?

Cities with mid-range home prices and a self-employed or trade-heavy workforce see more owner-finance deals because traditional mortgage qualifying is harder.

How is the score calculated?

Equal-weighted blend of affordability, market size, and median income — see the methodology section above.

Are these listings or rankings?

Rankings. To see actual owner-financed listings in a specific city, click through to the city page.

Why does owner financing work better in some South Carolina cities?

Cities with mid-range home prices and a self-employed or trade-heavy workforce see more owner-finance deals because traditional mortgage qualifying is harder.

How is the score calculated?

Equal-weighted blend of affordability, market size, and median income — see the methodology section above.

Are these listings or rankings?

Rankings. To see actual owner-financed listings in a specific city, click through to the city page.

Buyer authority

Best cities for owner financing

Owner financing thrives in markets where home prices are reachable, the buyer pool skews self-employed or credit-rebuild, and sellers have enough equity to carry the note. Here's the ranking across the U.S..

Last updated June 2026

Top 25 nationally

#	City	State	Owner-finance fit score	Score
1	Baton Rouge	LA	86 / 100	86	View
2	Brandon	MS	86 / 100	86	View
3	Oklahoma City	OK	86 / 100	86	View
4	Louisville	KY	85 / 100	85	View
5	Columbus	OH	85 / 100	85	View
6	Slidell	LA	84 / 100	84	View
7	New Iberia	LA	84 / 100	84	View
8	Olive Branch	MS	84 / 100	84	View
9	Ocean Springs	MS	84 / 100	84	View
10	Madison	MS	84 / 100	84	View
11	Dayton	OH	84 / 100	84	View
12	Montgomery	AL	83 / 100	83	View
13	Jonesboro	AR	83 / 100	83	View
14	Rogers	AR	83 / 100	83	View
15	Des Moines	IA	83 / 100	83	View
16	Lafayette	LA	83 / 100	83	View
17	Denham Springs	LA	83 / 100	83	View
18	Cleveland	OH	83 / 100	83	View
19	Tulsa	OK	83 / 100	83	View
20	Birmingham	AL	82 / 100	82	View
21	Decatur	AL	82 / 100	82	View
22	Little Rock	AR	82 / 100	82	View
23	Benton	AR	82 / 100	82	View
24	Sherwood	AR	82 / 100	82	View
25	Iowa City	IA	82 / 100	82	View

By state

Top picks within each state. Click through for the full state-level ranking.

Alabama

1. Montgomery83 / 100
2. Birmingham82 / 100
3. Decatur82 / 100

Full AL ranking

Alaska

1. Jber59 / 100
2. Homer56 / 100
3. Ketchikan52 / 100

Full AK ranking

Arizona

1. Nogales66 / 100
2. Somerton66 / 100
3. Eloy66 / 100

Full AZ ranking

Arkansas

1. Jonesboro83 / 100
2. Rogers83 / 100
3. Little Rock82 / 100

Full AR ranking

California

1. San Francisco54 / 100
2. San Jose52 / 100
3. Fremont52 / 100

Full CA ranking

Colorado

1. Littleton51 / 100
2. Clifton51 / 100
3. Lamar50 / 100

Full CO ranking

Connecticut

1. Willimantic67 / 100
2. Bridgeport63 / 100
3. Hartford63 / 100

Full CT ranking

Delaware

1. Seaford67 / 100
2. Laurel66 / 100
3. Harrington66 / 100

Full DE ranking

Florida

1. Belle Glade68 / 100
2. Defuniak Springs67 / 100
3. Orange City67 / 100

Full FL ranking

Georgia

1. Cedartown75 / 100
2. Clarkston75 / 100
3. Jesup75 / 100

Full GA ranking

Hawaii

1. Kailua47 / 100
2. Honolulu46 / 100
3. Mililani46 / 100

Full HI ranking

Idaho

1. Jerome60 / 100
2. Payette60 / 100
3. Burley58 / 100

Full ID ranking

Illinois

1. Cicero80 / 100
2. Chicago Heights79 / 100
3. Urbana79 / 100

Full IL ranking

Indiana

1. South Bend81 / 100
2. Bloomington81 / 100
3. Evansville80 / 100

Full IN ranking

Iowa

1. Des Moines83 / 100
2. Iowa City82 / 100
3. Council Bluffs81 / 100

Full IA ranking

Kansas

1. Topeka82 / 100
2. Lawrence81 / 100
3. Salina81 / 100

Full KS ranking

Kentucky

1. Louisville85 / 100
2. Elizabethtown82 / 100
3. Bowling Green81 / 100

Full KY ranking

Louisiana

1. Baton Rouge86 / 100
2. Slidell84 / 100
3. New Iberia84 / 100

Full LA ranking

Maine

1. Houlton67 / 100
2. Old Town66 / 100
3. Belfast66 / 100

Full ME ranking

Maryland

1. Princess Anne64 / 100
2. Frostburg63 / 100
3. Brooklyn61 / 100

Full MD ranking

Massachusetts

1. Boston52 / 100
2. Cambridge48 / 100
3. Brookline48 / 100

Full MA ranking

Michigan

1. Kalamazoo82 / 100
2. Warren81 / 100
3. Clinton Township81 / 100

Full MI ranking

Minnesota

1. Hibbing73 / 100
2. Virginia73 / 100
3. Albert Lea71 / 100

Full MN ranking

Mississippi

1. Brandon86 / 100
2. Olive Branch84 / 100
3. Ocean Springs84 / 100

Full MS ranking

Missouri

1. Independence81 / 100
2. Joplin81 / 100
3. Springfield80 / 100

Full MO ranking

Montana

1. Browning59 / 100
2. Hamilton57 / 100
3. Libby57 / 100

Full MT ranking

Nebraska

1. Grand Island80 / 100
2. Norfolk79 / 100
3. Fremont79 / 100

Full NE ranking

Nevada

1. Sun Valley60 / 100
2. Yerington58 / 100
3. Laughlin58 / 100

Full NV ranking

New Hampshire

1. Berlin57 / 100
2. Claremont54 / 100
3. Franklin54 / 100

Full NH ranking

New Jersey

1. Camden54 / 100
2. Jersey City52 / 100
3. Pleasantville52 / 100

Full NJ ranking

New Mexico

1. Belen77 / 100
2. Portales75 / 100
3. Espanola75 / 100

Full NM ranking

New York

1. Monticello60 / 100
2. Gloversville58 / 100
3. Dunkirk58 / 100

Full NY ranking

North Carolina

1. Eden75 / 100
2. Forest City75 / 100
3. Tarboro75 / 100

Full NC ranking

North Dakota

1. Grand Forks78 / 100
2. Jamestown78 / 100
3. Devils Lake77 / 100

Full ND ranking

Ohio

1. Columbus85 / 100
2. Dayton84 / 100
3. Cleveland83 / 100

Full OH ranking

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma City86 / 100
2. Tulsa83 / 100
3. Yukon82 / 100

Full OK ranking

Oregon

1. Ontario59 / 100
2. Prineville59 / 100
3. Cottage Grove58 / 100

Full OR ranking

Pennsylvania

1. Williamsport80 / 100
2. Erie79 / 100
3. Scranton79 / 100

Full PA ranking

Puerto Rico

1. Mayaguez75 / 100
2. Toa Baja74 / 100
3. Arecibo74 / 100

Full PR ranking

Rhode Island

1. Central Falls61 / 100
2. East Providence57 / 100
3. Woonsocket55 / 100

Full RI ranking

South Carolina

1. Anderson79 / 100
2. Conway78 / 100
3. Lancaster78 / 100

Full SC ranking

South Dakota

1. Huron77 / 100
2. Brookings76 / 100
3. Mitchell76 / 100

Full SD ranking

Tennessee

1. Sparta76 / 100
2. Rogersville76 / 100
3. Lewisburg76 / 100

Full TN ranking

Texas

1. Pharr78 / 100
2. Weslaco78 / 100
3. San Marcos77 / 100

Full TX ranking

Utah

1. Richfield49 / 100
2. Draper48 / 100
3. Cedar City47 / 100

Full UT ranking

Vermont

1. Rutland64 / 100
2. Bennington62 / 100
3. Saint Johnsbury60 / 100

Full VT ranking

Virginia

1. Galax68 / 100
2. Bassett68 / 100
3. Radford67 / 100

Full VA ranking

Washington

1. Bellevue51 / 100
2. Redmond50 / 100
3. Issaquah49 / 100

Full WA ranking

Washington D.C.

1. Washington51 / 100

Full DC ranking

West Virginia

1. Scott Depot81 / 100
2. Charles Town80 / 100
3. Bridgeport79 / 100

Full WV ranking

Wisconsin

1. Whitewater77 / 100
2. Marinette77 / 100
3. Beloit76 / 100

Full WI ranking

Wyoming

1. Riverton66 / 100
2. Torrington66 / 100
3. Laramie65 / 100

Full WY ranking

Methodology

We score each city on three factors: affordability (estimated home value vs national norms), market size (population), and income flexibility (avg household income from Census ACS). Higher score = better owner-finance fit. Income figures are means, not medians.

FAQ

Why does owner financing work better in some the U.S. cities?: Cities with mid-range home prices and a self-employed or trade-heavy workforce see more owner-finance deals because traditional mortgage qualifying is harder.
How is the score calculated?: Equal-weighted blend of affordability, market size, and median income — see the methodology section above.
Are these listings or rankings?: Rankings. To see actual owner-financed listings in a specific city, click through to the city page.