Orlando, Tampa, and Miami on list of the top best cities to invest in real estate
GOBankingRates surveyed 61 out of the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. to find the worst and best cities to invest in real estate. According to their analysis, Orlando ranked No. 1 as the top metro area in the U.S. to own investment property, with Tampa coming in second.
Overall, four Florida cities ranked in the top 15 best cities to invest. Miami came in at No. 10, and Jacksonville at No. 13.
To create the rankings, the study analyzed the following factors:
- Employment growth: the percent change in the city’s number of employed people year-over-year (Orlando’s was 4.5%)
- Population growth: the percent change in the city’s population year-over-year (Orlando’s was 2.99%)
- Increase in home values: the percent change in the city’s median home value year-over-year (Orlando’s was 11%)
- Years to pay off property: the number of years it would take for rental income to pay off the median home value (Orlando’s was 12.40)
15 best cities to own investment property
1. Orlando
2. Tampa
3. Denver
4. Seattle
5. Austin, Texas
6. Reno, Nev.
7. Dallas
8. Portland, Ore.
9. Raleigh, N.C.
10. Miami
12. Nashville, Tenn.
13. Jacksonville
14. Charlotte, N.C.
15. Richmond, Va.
15 worst cities to own investment property
1. Anchorage, Alaska
2. Pittsburgh
3. Chicago
4. Virginia Beach, Va.
5. Cleveland, Ohio
6. Honolulu
7. Detroit
8. Tulsa, Okla.
9. Omaha, Neb.
10. El Paso, Texas
11. Wichita, Kansas
12. Cincinnati, Ohio
13. Memphis, Tenn.
14. Baltimore, Md.
15. Winston-Salem, N.C.
“Growing populations in the top 10 cities on our list are fueling the need for more housing,” says Cameron Huddleston, Life + Money columnist for GOBankingRates. “That’s why these cities are such great places to own investment property now. On the other hand, the cities at the bottom of our list have seen little-to-no population growth, so the demand for housing isn’t as high which means real estate investors won’t do as well there.”
Study insights
- Five out of the 10 best cities to own property are located in Florida and Texas.
- Population levels are declining in places like Anchorage and Cleveland, pushing them to the bottom of the list.
- When it comes to real estate investments, Midwest isn’t best none of the Midwest states made it into the top 15 of the best states to own investment property.
- Seattle, Austin, and Reno rank among the top 10 places to own investment property. However, it takes 17 to 19 years to pay off median home values in these cities based on yearly rents.
Source: “4 Fla. metros at top of best cities to invest list,” Florida Realtors
