Buyers markets.

• Position: CHARTING THE COURSE

Need another reason to move to one of North Carolina's biggest metros? NerdWallet Inc., which examined the 59 cities in the state with more than 15,000 residents, says the best places in which to buy a home are close to Charlotte and Raleigh. The San Francisco-based market-research company generated scores based on value provided to homeowners. Four of the top five are in the Triangle. Hope Mills (No. 15), near Fayetteville, and Clemmons (No. 17), near Winston-Salem, are the only cities outside of Charlotte and the Triangle in the top 20.

1. Holly Springs

   Homeownership rate: 88.1%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,667

   Median monthly household income: $7,432

   Median home value: $236,700

2. Indian Trail

   Homeownership rate: 85.8%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,440

   Median monthly household income: $5,447

   Median home value: $178,200

3. Fuquay-Varina

   Homeownership rate: 74.6%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,434

   Median monthly household income: $4,939

   Median home value: $192,700

4. Wake Forest

   Homeownership rate: 74.8%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,748

   Median monthly household income: $6,185

   Median home value: $255,500

5. Clayton

   Homeownership rate: 65.7%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,325

   Median monthly household income: $5,102

   Median home value: $151,800

6. Apex

   Homeownership rate: 75.2%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,717

   Median monthly household income: $7,450

   Median home value: $258,500

7. Huntersville

   Homeownership rate: 75.1%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,738

   Median monthly household income: $7,138

   Median home value: $247,200

8. Morrisville

   Homeownership rate: 48.8%

   Median selected monthly homeowner costs: $1,825

   Median monthly household...