Denver continues to top the charts for annual home price appreciation among major metro areas, making it one of the most expensive housing markets outside the two coasts. But a key pillar allowing buyers to afford those pricier homes — growth in high-income jobs — is weakening.

Nationally, high-income jobs rose at a 2.6 percent pace last year, with San Jose, Calif. (8.2 percent), and Austin, Texas (6.4 percent), leading the way, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

Metro Denver, by contrast, saw a net gain of 2,500 high-paying jobs, for a 0.6 percent growth rate, which ranked 17th of 20 major housing markets.

While revisions might lift that number, the weak oil and gas market appears to be a factor. Houston had a net decline in high-paying jobs last year, dropping 4,600 positions.

Denver ranked second to Portland, Ore., last year, with a 13 percent annual home price appreciation, more than double the 6.2 percent increase across 100 metro areas, according to the FNC Residential Price Index released Monday.

“Have more confidence in the markets with strong high-income job growth, and become cautious if those growth trends begin to slow,” advised Adam Artunian, the author of the John Burns report.