Top 5 Real Estate Markets in 2021

5. Portland, Oregon: It’s a good time to live in Portlandia. This bustling Pacific Northwest maven has seen a steady 4% growth in population since 2010 and ranks in the top 10 in terms of urban migration rates (people moving from metro to metro). In 2016, the median home value rose to $345,000, and this number is expected to rise again in 2017. According to Zillow, home values are projected to appreciate 5.2% in 2017. Portland is home to a cluster of footwear/athletic-wear companies such as Nike and Adidas, and also is home to an up-and-coming tech scene. Jobs are plentiful, nature is abundant, and the city’s thriving food scene add to its allure that draws transplants in.

4. Nashville, Tennessee: Think Nashville and the first thing that usually comes to mind is country music. Music Row is still thriving, but the city has also seen a huge uptick in health care and private sector jobs in the past few years. Young professionals have taken a penchant to the city’s rich culture, work opportunities and quality of life. Nashville saw a 4.4% growth rate in 2016, much of whom fall in the 35 and under demographic. Zillow crowned Nashville 2017’s hottest real estate market for investors, with a 4.3 percent real estate appreciation rate (median price is 273,000 in perspective). Whether you’re an agent, buyer, or looking to relocate, Nashville is a viable destination.

3. Denver, Colorado: Cold is the last adjective that can be used to describe Denver’s real estate market. The 2016 “Best Place to Live in America” (US News/World Report) has seen a whopping 6.5 percent population growth since 2010 and sports one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates (2.9%). To accommodate this diaspora, properties are sold and listed day by day. Realtor ranked Denver third nationally in traffic and listing turnover. Denver is also a maven for investors as home prices are set to appreciate 3.6% in 2017.

2. San Jose, California: The home of Silicon Valley, San Jose is internationally known as a stronghold for tech industry jobs. The revenue generated in this region alone surpasses entire sections of the country, and this reflects on properties values. In 2016, the median home price clocked in at nearly 830k, and rightfully so. Year after year San Jose ranks in the top 5 in many “Best Places to Live” lists thanks in part to having a top rated national public schooling system and plentiful jobs. Analytics on real estate search platforms such as Realtor.com show that San Jose has the largest traffic rates of any city in the country. Houses are flying off the market and real estate agents and investors are can be just as successful as their tech industry counterparts.

1. Austin, Texas: This quirky, Texas city has seen the largest uptick in population growth (7.8%) and migration (1.45%) of any US city in 2017. Recently named 2017’s “Best City to Live In” by US News and World Report, Austin is the go-to city for professionals everywhere. With ample jobs in varying sectors (tech in Roundrock, creative jobs a plenty in the city), a thriving art/food scene and a mild climate, it is easy to see the hype. The infrastructure of this city has yet to accommodate this influx, and the housing market is in the same boat. New properties and high-rises are popping up left and right, but current homeowners are seeing the most prosperity in terms of their property values. Home prices are set to appreciate a cool 5% in 2017, and Reatlor.com has named Austin a top 10 housing market again in 2017. Buyers can look forward to new homes, sellers can look forward to better returns, and agents can build a strong sales pipeline in the capital of the Lone Star state.