CNBC.com: Top 15 Cities for First-Time Homebuyers

Buying a home can be a daunting process, particularly as a first-time homebuyer under the age of 35. According to CNBC.com, which highlights a 2016 SmartAsset report , buying a home doesn’t have to be so hard – buyers just have to pick a home in the right city.

The SmartAsset report ranked the top 15 cities for buying a home, based on a number of factors including a population more than 300,000, value per square foot, affordability, ease of securing a mortgage, homeowner stability, market fluctuation, loan rate and history of recent quarters of declining home sales.

Oklahoma and Texas were the top two states in the U.S. to buy a home, landing six cities in the top 15, with Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as the number one city. Other cities on the list include Anchorage, Alaska; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Louisville, Kentucky; and Wichita, Kansas.

Lauren has more than 12 years of experience in public relations, social media and content production. She has managed internal and external communication to deliver impactful business results for brands in the hospitality, retail, education and e-commerce sectors. Lauren has a Master of Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Spanish from Illinois State University. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her husband, son and dog.