Columbus: Buy
Average list price: $112,691
Average monthly rent : $759
Price to rent ratio: 12.38
Columbus is another city where you should skip renting and just fork over the money to purchase a home. Betsy Lynch, a realtor with Home Central Realty is selling a 2,100 square foot 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home built in 2006 and in perfect condition for $180,000 that was going for $216,000 in 2006.
"If you can find any way at all to buy right now that's what you should do because of interest rates and the great values you're getting," said Lynch. "Pricing is already so low with lots of short sales, foreclosures and new builds on the market, and on top of that, Ohio even has a grant program for first-time homebuyers."
NEXT: Kansas City, Mo.: Rent
Last updated October 11 2010: 11:53 AM ET
