No. 10 Best City to Buy: Las Vegas, Nev.

Price-to-rent ratio: 11
Avg. cost to rent 2br: $983
Avg. cost to buy 2br: $128,815

Why: Sales in Las Vegas have improved but foreclosures continue to rise, keeping prices low. Home prices may also be limited by the unemployment rate, which was 14.2% in April, according to BLS data.

In photo: 32 E. Serene Avenue; Price: $125,000; Bedrooms: 2; Bathrooms: 1½; Size: 1,346 sq. ft.