Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or looking for a potentially booming housing market to invest in, getting some insider real estate advice is ideal to avoid financial mistakes when you buy. While the U.S. housing market is ever-evolving, experts predict which markets are more likely to deliver returns over the next decade.
We spoke to real estate experts around the U.S. to get the low-down on which cities are likely to see housing booms in the next 10 years. Here are 11 to consider if you’re trying to make smart money moves.
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1. Lexington, South Carolina
downtown columbia south carolina skyline
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Jennifer Beeston, Executive Vice President of National Sales at Rate.com, highlights a few cities in the South that are likely to be well worth the investment. South Carolina overall is experiencing job growth while still offering affordable housing, she says.
“You can get a beautiful four-bedroom home in a good school district in areas like Lexington for under $350,000. It reminds me of Texas and Florida pre-2020,” Beeston says.
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2. Dallas, Texas
austin texas skyline during sunset
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Beeston also points to Dallas for a myriad of reasons, including new construction, excess industry, and other factors that make good deals more likely.
“As long as you plan to hold for 10 years, it will pencil out because we are continuing to see businesses move to Texas because of their pro-business attitude,” she explains.
3. San Diego, California
San Diego California from above
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Jessica Vance, who has worked as a real estate agent and investor at Elite San Diego Real Estate, says now is the prime time to buy in San Diego, as home prices have leveled after years of spikes.
“They have since leveled out, allowing for a perfect buying opportunity for borrowers who waited on the sidelines while properties went over listing and were competing with multiple all-cash offers,” Vance says.
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4. Louisville, Kentucky
louisville kentucky on the ohio river
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Louisville may not be on the radar for as many aspiring buyers, but real estate investing expert Brad Smotherman says it should be, noting it’s displaying signs of great early investment opportunities.
“There’s an influx of new business growth and young professionals seeking to revitalize its downtown, leading to the area’s very high investor demand,” he says.
5. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Mike Steward, Vice President of Real Estate Sales at Real Property Management, points to the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina as a safe bet for would-be homebuyers.
Job growth is attracting many to the area and will continue to do so, Steward says, citing the life sciences industry, which has created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state.
6. Nashville, Tennessee
nashville tennessee downtown
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Another Southern favorite that has big potential for homebuyers, Nashville is attractive for many reasons beyond its famed Music City reputation.
Steward touts Nashville as “a national healthcare hub with over 900 healthcare firms.” It’s a massive industry that will likely make the area attractive for years to come.
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7. Phoenix, Arizona
Panoramic skyline view of Phoenix downtown
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“Everyone is betting on Phoenix,” Scott Pfeiffer, founder and CEO of Sonora West Development in Scottsdale, says. “The luxury market here is about to go absolutely bananas in the next one to two years.”
Pfeiffer says manufacturing company TSMC expanding in the state, major infrastructure projects, and tight inventory all contribute to Phoenix being a sound investment for buyers.
8. Michigan City, Indiana
beautiful late summer morning.
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Michigan City is located on the southern tip of Lake Michigan and offers proximity to major draws like Chicago and lakeside resort towns, Kacia Snyder, a real estate broker with James Sotheby’s International Realty, says.
The city is “rapidly transforming from industrial gateway to vacation getaway with a host of new developments, restaurants, retail, and a newly upgraded train line, which has shortened the commute to downtown Chicago to less than an hour,” Snyder says.
9. Austin, Texas
Austin Texas during sunset
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Austin is growing, Harrison Stevens, Vice President of Marketing for TurboTenant, says and it’s expected to continue to grow in popularity as it develops a reputation as a tech hub.
“Despite all that, housing prices haven’t risen quite as much as you might expect … In the years to come, however, that is likely to shift. Buying a house now might be a great financial move strategically, whether you want to live there or buy an investment property,” he says.
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10. Charlotte, North Carolina
downtown charlotte north carolina
Kevin Ruck/Adobe
Another southern gem, Charlotte is one of the most promising markets for long-term homeowners, Cliff Auerswald, President of All Reverse Mortgage Inc., says.
“Housing demand is outpacing supply due to the booming financial sector, a steady influx of young professionals, and one of the fastest job growth rates in the nation over the past five years,” he says.
11. Tampa, Florida
Tampa Florida
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Auerswald also points to the greater Tampa area in Florida, as its growing medical, research, and tech industries will make buying in the area a solid and safe choice.
“Compared to Miami and certain coastal regions of Florida, Tampa has been relatively more affordable,” he says. “For long-term investors, Tampa is expected to show steady appreciation in the near future due to the rapid job growth, high population inflow, and high quality of life.”
Bottom line
Buying a home that quickly appreciates in value is one of the best ways to prepare yourself financially for economic uncertainty, yet navigating the housing market is no easy feat.
While the real estate experts interviewed here have a range of ideas about where the next big housing booms will be, you can assess the risks versus benefits of any area you’re hoping to buy in by looking at things like the local job market, revitalization efforts, and any growing industries.
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