Home affordability is at its highest level on record, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. With fallen home prices and mortgage rates near all-time lows, several housing markets are showing signs of a turnaround and becoming known as good housing buys.

Forbes.com recently highlighted the best places to purchase a home right now, based on REALTOR.com February housing data (including listing, sales, and inventory trends) and jobs data for 146 metro areas. Here are the top six places to make the list: 

1. Tucson, Ariz.
Median list price: $170,000
Price drop from housing peak: 45.1%
Inventory: Down 23% year-over-year

2. Austin, Texas
Median list price: $229,500
Price drop from housing peak: 2.9%
Inventory: Down 19% year-over-year

3. Kansas City, Mo.
Median list price: $134,150
Price drop from housing peak: 8.8%
Inventory: Down 21% year-over-year

4. Baltimore
Median list price: $239,500
Price drop from housing peak: 22.3%
Inventory: Down 25.5% year-over-year

5. Fort Worth, Texas
Median list price: $160,000
Price drop from housing peak: 4.7%
Inventory: Down 26.5% year-over-year

6. Salt Lake City Utah
Median list price: $195,000
Price drop from housing peak: 19.4%
Inventory: Down 31% year-over-year

Source: "The Best Cities to Buy a Home Right Now," Forbes.com (April 12, 2012)