Aerial view of downtown Macon in Georgia.

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

Real estate investors must always think one step ahead of the competition. A state, metro area, or city that’s a top choice for transplants could see its popularity wane in a matter of weeks.

Does that mean, however, that past is not prologue? Not necessarily. Areas with positive real estate trends that have stretched over (at least) several months can offer great starting points for investors’ portfolios.

Follow along as PropertyReach looks at some of the nation’s hottest ZIP codes throughout 2026 and provides some pointers for cashing in on the favorable trends.

National Property Values Hold Steady in the First Half of 2026

Before zeroing in on some of America’s hottest towns for real estate, it’s worth taking a glimpse at some noteworthy trends and data pieces.

  • The median sales price for a home in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2026 stood at $410,700, a slight increase from $408,500 during the previous quarter. It’s remained steady for a year now; the median sales price of $442,600 in 2022’s second quarter remains the highest ever recorded.
  • The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as of late August 2026, according to Experian, is 6.96% .
  • The rate of existing-home sales held steady in the South and Northeast in July 2026, with no meaningful changes from July 2025. The Midwest and the West saw increases of 2.1% and 1.4%, respectively, in the same time frame.
  • The Elgin, Illinois, metro’s median home sales price increased the most throughout 2025 (10.8%). Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos in Texas experienced the biggest decrease (6.9%).
  • Of the 10 U.S. cities with the most housing construction permits in 2026, four are in Texas, and seven are in the Sun Belt region.

In the near future, many real estate experts predict that home sales will continue to even out after the post-COVID frenzy, owing largely to rising mortgage rates and continued economic uncertainty.

6 ZIP Codes with Rising Home Sale Prices

The trend of slowed home sales does not hold true for every metro or city in the U.S. Plenty of areas are experiencing property value appreciation, and for a wide number of reasons. Below are six notable towns and cities with year-over-year increases in home listing prices. Each ZIP code has at least 30 active listings on prominent real estate websites.

Information from Realtor.com’s data library was used to compile the following list.

1. 31201 | Macon, Georgia (+48.3% YoY)

Although Macon, like most of the U.S., saw spikes in violent crimes in the immediate post-COVID period, the rate has dramatically fallen in the past three years. That trend, combined with the relatively higher prices of Atlanta and Georgia’s burgeoning film industry, has led to an impressive jump in Macon real estate prices since July 2025.

2. 55616 | Two Harbors, Minnesota (+42.3% YoY)

A popular recreational destination on Minnesota’s North Shore, Two Harbors has seen more than its fair share of residents take up a permanent vacation. According to data from Realtor.com, the median listing price as of July 2026 is $369,000, a dramatic 42.3% increase since July 2025.

3. 72114 | North Little Rock, Arkansas (+39.4% YoY)

Another city experiencing a decrease in crime rates, North Little Rock is emerging as an affordable alternative to Little Rock, where property prices are relatively high. The median single-family home in North Little Rock stands at $120,950, which is almost 40% higher than in July 2025.

4. 75964 | Nacogdoches, Texas (+35.3 % YoY)

Transplants flooded Texas in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in search of lower taxes and affordable real estate. The Dallas metro received a large share of new residents, but many areas to the east—like Nacogdoches—didn’t see a huge increase.

Nevertheless, property rates in parts of Nacogdoches have soared in the past year, as inventory has stayed relatively stagnant. Two nearby Pilgrim’s Pride poultry production and processing plants have ensured plentiful job opportunities in the area.

5. 14211 | Buffalo, New York (+32.7 % YoY)

Like the Bills at nearby Orchard Park, Buffalo has seen a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. The 14211 ZIP code, in particular, is seeing rapidly rising home listing prices. The median single-family home there is listed at about $152,000 today.

6. 46526 | Goshen, Indiana (+12.4% YoY)

Indianapolis has garnered attention for its real estate affordability relative to the metro’s amenities and strong job market, and those trends have seemingly migrated upstate to Goshen, Indiana, near South Bend. The lack of new housing supply has kept the median home sales price in Goshen at $345,000, nearly $30,000 more than the median in Indianapolis.

Best Tools for Identifying Profitable Investment Opportunities

Most software providers will tell you that a good real estate investment strategy can only be achieved by forking over a bunch of cash for their products. It might make sense for larger investment firms to use expensive online tools, but you can get started with some basic ones. Many of them are free.

  • Stessa. Investors can get basic dealmaking analyses with this free program. It also helps you keep track of the cash flow from your current portfolio.
  • Bankrate. If you’re looking for a basic tool that calculates estimated mortgage payments and property values, Bankrate is one to consider.
  • County tax assessor. Checking out public records can help you find financially distressed owners who might be motivated to offload a residential property.
  • Property finder tools. Accessing an accurate and comprehensive property finder website will help you discover granular details about homes you’re considering adding to your portfolio.

The most successful real estate investors combine boots-on-the-ground knowledge with effective research tools.

Look for a Balanced Market Throughout 2026 and Beyond

Sellers still have the advantage in many U.S. metros, but buyers have already begun regaining ground they lost from 2020–2023. Market adjustments and calibrations have been slow and steady, and interest rates are unlikely to see much movement in the near future. Many investors are anticipating a modest increase in home sales in 2027.

This story was produced by PropertyReach and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

About The Author
Frank Dinolfo for PropertyReach