For investor clients looking to grow a strong and profitable portfolio in 2025, identifying the best cities to invest in real estate is essential to success. As a third-party originator (TPO), you can form lasting and lucrative relationships by helping your clients understand the real estate investment landscape and pinpointing the top real estate markets to enter.
Whether you are dealing with short- or long-term investment properties, to find the best real estate markets for investor clients, you must pay attention to several economic factors that influence market demand, including:
Whether you are dealing with short- or long-term investment properties, to find the best real estate markets for investor clients, you must pay attention to several economic factors that influence market demand, including:
- Job Growth: A thriving job market attracts consumers into a city’s rental and homebuying markets
- Economic Stability: A bustling economy mitigates any risks of sudden, unexpected downturns.
- Affordable Housing: Demographic shifts in today’s homebuyers have strongly emphasized affordability above all else when it comes to home buying.
- Strong Rental Demand/Low Vacancy Rates: Is the rental market hot? High demand translates to higher yields, lower vacancy rates, and less risk.
- Property Appreciation: Are the values of properties in the area growing? This is essential for long-term investment success.
These factors are what separate the best real estate housing markets in the US from others.
With these metrics in mind, let’s look at the top real estate markets for your investor clients to enter in 2025:
With these metrics in mind, let’s look at the top real estate markets for your investor clients to enter in 2025:
1. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte at a glance:
- Fortune 500 hub: Charlotte is home to nine Fortune 500 companies.
- Population growth: Over the last decade, Charlotte’s population has grown by over 20%.
- Low cost of living: Charlotte’s housing, electricity, and grocery costs are 10%, 29%, and 6% below the national average.
With a high quality-of-life rating, robust local economy, and relatively affordable housing costs, Charlotte remains one of the best areas to invest in real estate. The city boasts a flourishing job market highlighted by its finance, information technology, and engineering sectors and is home to nine Fortune 500 company headquarters, including Bank of America, Honeywell, and Duke Energy.
With a great education system, local universities, and below-average living expenses, Charlotte continues to attract young professionals, families, and college students into its rental and homebuying markets.
With a great education system, local universities, and below-average living expenses, Charlotte continues to attract young professionals, families, and college students into its rental and homebuying markets.
2. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville at a glance:
- Tourism explosion: The United States’ “Music City” attracts more than 15 million tourists annually.
- Emerging job economy: With growing tech and healthcare sectors, and the appeal of no state income taxes, Nashville continues to grow in diversity and attractiveness.
- Low inventory: The city’s low housing inventory compared to rental and homebuying demands has skyrocketed property values and investor markets.
Nationally recognized for its music scene, Nashville remains a top real estate market year-over-year due to its ongoing growth in employment and tourism–attracting more than 15 million visitors annually. While its tourism industry brings economic strength, the city has also seen substantial growth in its healthcare and tech sectors over the last two decades. Additionally, with no state income taxes, Nashville creates even more allure for businesses and consumers alike.
With a rich influx of young professionals, families, and tourists, Nashville is expected to continue to grow (1.34% by 2030). Considering the city’s housing inventory is at all-time lows, fix and flip, rental, and new construction investors will have a unique opportunity to meet consumer demands while turning substantial profits–making Nashville one of the best places to invest in real estate in 2025.
With a rich influx of young professionals, families, and tourists, Nashville is expected to continue to grow (1.34% by 2030). Considering the city’s housing inventory is at all-time lows, fix and flip, rental, and new construction investors will have a unique opportunity to meet consumer demands while turning substantial profits–making Nashville one of the best places to invest in real estate in 2025.
3. Austin, Texas
Austin at a glance:
- Tech powerhouse: Austin is home to several major tech companies (Apple, Dell, Meta, Tesla, Space X, etc.) and several up-and-coming vibrant startup tech companies.
- SFR investment haven: With several large universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, the city consistently brings in large amounts of potential tenants, from students to young professionals.
- Substantial home appreciation: Over the past decade, home values in Austin have appreciated 126%, with an average annual rate of 10.79%.
Though Texas is already home to popular real estate investment cities like Dallas and Houston, Austin has emerged as one of the hottest real estate markets in Texas and the US in 2025. The city ranks 7th nationally in housing market size, yet continues to suffer from a low housing stock. Low inventory and the influx of new residents (2.06% growth in 2024) have exacerbated the home-selling and single-family rental (SFR) market.
Austin has a booming economy thanks to its government, education, and tech business sectors that boast multiple up-and-coming innovative start-ups. With low unemployment rates (3.2%), unbelievable home appreciation rates (10.79% annually), a growing job market, and higher education opportunities, Austin offers investors a stable and prosperous market to enter–making it one of the best areas to invest in real estate in 2025.
Austin has a booming economy thanks to its government, education, and tech business sectors that boast multiple up-and-coming innovative start-ups. With low unemployment rates (3.2%), unbelievable home appreciation rates (10.79% annually), a growing job market, and higher education opportunities, Austin offers investors a stable and prosperous market to enter–making it one of the best areas to invest in real estate in 2025.
4. Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville at a glance:
- Largest US city: As the largest city by area in the US, Jacksonville’s housing market continues to grow and offers a wide range of investment opportunities.
- Port/military city: With a large military presence and a strong logistic and trade sector, the city consistently maintains a stable economic base.
- Affordability: Lower housing and rental costs further enhance consumer appeal, ripening the market for savvy investors.
This year, the hottest real estate market in Florida is Jacksonville. As the largest city by area in the United States, Jacksonville offers a wide range of neighborhoods and investment opportunities. Jacksonville is also a major port city with a large military presence, fueling its economy with robust government and logistic sectors. The city also continues to grow in other industries, including finance, healthcare, and tech.
Due to its geographic location pinning it within driving distance of many of Florida’s best attractions, Jacksonville has quickly become a highly sought-after location for young professionals and families. Coupled with the city’s substantially below-average rental costs ($1,400 – $1,600) and median home prices ($325,000 – $350,000) it’s no wonder Jacksonville is one of the top places to invest on the East Coast.
Due to its geographic location pinning it within driving distance of many of Florida’s best attractions, Jacksonville has quickly become a highly sought-after location for young professionals and families. Coupled with the city’s substantially below-average rental costs ($1,400 – $1,600) and median home prices ($325,000 – $350,000) it’s no wonder Jacksonville is one of the top places to invest on the East Coast.
Roc Capital: Your Capital Partner for Investor Client Success
Identifying the top real estate markets for investor clients is only half the battle. In the end, to win investment opportunities and outpace the competition, investors rely on TPOs to provide fast and reliable financing.
As the top residential financing partner on the market, Roc Capital unlocks the speed and maneuverability your clients need to succeed. We provide reliable and flexible lending packages for all of your client investors’ needs, including:
As the top residential financing partner on the market, Roc Capital unlocks the speed and maneuverability your clients need to succeed. We provide reliable and flexible lending packages for all of your client investors’ needs, including:
- Fix and Flip Loans
- Ground Up Financing
- Stabilized Bridge Loans
- Single Property Rental and Rental Portfolio Loan Options
And, Roc Capital’s White Label Table Funding program gives TPOs the authority and strength to build fruitful client relationships while elevating and scaling their mortgage business.
If you want to help your investor clients win in the top real estate markets, partnering with Roc Capital will give you the tools, insights, and financial backing to elevate your mortgage business and succeed. To learn more CLICK HERE to get started today.
If you want to help your investor clients win in the top real estate markets, partnering with Roc Capital will give you the tools, insights, and financial backing to elevate your mortgage business and succeed. To learn more CLICK HERE to get started today.
