I’m a Real Estate Agent: 7 Places To Avoid Buying a Condo in 2026
Written by
Gabrielle Olya
Edited by
Brendan McGinley
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Buying a condo in 2026 might seem like a smart move, whether you’re looking for a starter home, a vacation property or a rental investment. But experts warn that some markets are facing major challenges, from skyrocketing insurance costs to new reserve fund requirements and falling property values. Choosing the wrong location could turn your dream purchase into a financial headache.
To help you avoid costly mistakes, GOBankingRates spoke with Ryann Brier, a Michigan real estate agent at City Lights Home Buyers, who shared seven U.S. cities where buying a condo in 2026 could be a risky bet. Here are the areas she wouldn’t recommend buying a condominium right now.
1. Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral just got hit with a massive special assessment risk and insurance wave, which is going to put condo prices out of reach for anyone upper- to lower-middle class.
2. North Port, Florida
Again, Florida has been hit hard. I wouldn’t buy anything there, but definitely not a condo. The older waterfront condos now have new laws that require you to have reserve money to purchase them because it is such a risk.
3. Miami
Who doesn’t love downtown Brickell’s floor-to-ceiling windows? However, pricing shows that these condos have seen a significant dip in value, now that interest rates and HOA fees are putting these high-rise condos out of reach for most people.
4. Tampa, Florida
The high-population areas where people migrated to during COVID and have since been hit with natural disasters are horrible markets to purchase condos in. The insurance alone in this area makes owning a condo a bad idea.
5. Austin, Texas
Great place to go and get some barbecue, horrible place to buy a condo in 2026. Austin has seen more than a soft reset, with a harsh price decline in the condo sector, longer days on market and lower price per square foot.
6. San Antonio
Another migration hot spot during COVID, condo sales have hit a brick wall in San Antonio, with December being the lowest sales volume for condos in the area for the last three years. It’s not a good time to buy a condo in Texas — besides, it is way too hot.
7. Denver
One of my favorite places to visit has seen a gigantic inventory spike in condos, and with lots of options on the market, buyers can be more picky. Even if you negotiate a good deal, Denver condos are likely not to see much, if any, appreciation over the next few years. It’s not a good investment unless you’re trying to hit the slopes every day, in which case I say go for it.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the housing market continues to present challenges, and affordability is at the forefront. I am not saying it’s not a good time to buy in 2026, but you need to be very cautious with your underwriting and try to avoid the markets that are going through big corrections, like the ones we just named.
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