Top 8 ‘best bargain’ markets to be in 2012

Editor's note: This article is reposted with permission of Zillow. View the original item: "Best Places to Buy in 2012." Median list prices for each metro are from Realtor.com. And please note: There are slight discrepancies between Zillow's and Realtor.com's metro delineations. Please check each site for precise metro info. By Jill Simmons The 2012 buying and selling season is well under way and the housing market is finally showing signs of life. Agents are sharing stories of bidding wars in many markets as buyers are getting off the fence, ready to capitalize on still-record-low levels of affordability. So, is now really a good time to buy? In many markets, yes, and some places are better markets for buyers than others. Knowing that some people might still be wary of dipping their toes in the real estate market, we looked at the places where it makes a lot of sense to buy if you live there. To determine our Best Places to Buy in 2012 list...