The Agency Atlanta take on where the smart money is heading next year
If you want sunshine, solid appreciation potential, and fewer headaches than coastal bidding wars, the South is serving options. Based on interviews compiled by GOBankingRates reporter Stacy Sare Cohen on Oct 15, 2025, here are five markets that pros expect to pop in 2026 — with our quick-hit take on who each city fits best.
Source credit: Stacy Sare Cohen, GOBankingRates, Oct 15, 2025
1) Jacksonville, Florida
Why it’s heating up: Miles of beaches, port and logistics growth, and a strong military presence that quietly fuels year-round rental demand. Experts note median prices are still friendlier than South Florida, which gives first-time buyers and investors some breathing room.
Best for: Entry-level buyers and long-term buy-and-hold investors who like steady rent checks over roller-coaster returns.
The Agency Atlanta take: Think “workhorse” market. If you want cash flow without the drama, Jacksonville belongs on your shortlist.
2) Orlando, Florida
Why it’s heating up: Tourism star that matured into a true jobs machine. Rapid population growth from other states and abroad plus home values that still track below Miami. Translation: demand doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m.
Best for: Investors chasing occupancy and short-to-mid-term rental strategies, plus move-up buyers who want big-city energy with easier price points.
The Agency Atlanta take: Orlando is where theme parks and spreadsheets can peacefully coexist.
3) Charlotte, North Carolina
Why it’s heating up: A top U.S. banking and finance hub with consistent corporate relocations. Prices cooled a bit this year, which is exactly the window disciplined buyers ask for.
Best for: Professionals who want career gravity with suburban optionality, and investors who like blue-chip employers anchoring the story.
The Agency Atlanta take: When a market takes a breath, smart buyers inhale. Charlotte is setting up for the next climb.
4) Greenville, South Carolina
Why it’s heating up: A lifestyle pivot that stuck. Walkable downtown, credible healthcare and automotive sectors, and a mix of retirees and young pros streaming in. Rental demand keeps rising, which tells you investors are reading the same tea leaves.
Best for: Live-work-play seekers who want charm over chaos, and investors who prefer growth that looks sustainable rather than spicy.
The Agency Atlanta take: Call it a “Goldilocks” city. Not too big. Not too small. Just right for steady growth.
5) Atlanta, Georgia
Why it’s heating up: Logistics, film, and tech keep pulling talent in. The metro is huge, the economy is diversified, and there are still pockets of real value in fast-growing suburbs.
Best for: Everyone from first-time buyers stepping into rising corridors to investors targeting appreciation plus rent.
The Agency Atlanta take: We live this market daily. Atlanta is the Southern heavyweight with range. If you want options, Atlanta delivers.
How to use this intel
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Start with your goal. Cash flow, appreciation, lifestyle, or all three.
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Pick your lane. Core city vs suburban growth corridor.
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Pressure-test the numbers. Taxes, insurance, rents, and realistic maintenance. Cute spreadsheets lie when you forget the boring line items.
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Lock a local team. Lender, agent, inspector, property manager. You win deals before you write them.
Bottom line
The South is not one story. It’s five very different plays with one common thread: migration plus jobs. If you want help mapping your plan, we’ll show you where the opportunities line up with your budget and timeline — no fluff.
Thinking Atlanta or comparing across the Southeast?
The Agency Atlanta can build a custom buy box, pinpoint the right submarkets, and line up tours that respect your time.
Let’s talk strategy.
