Where To Buy Real Estate in 2024: See Home Prices in the Top 20 Emerging Markets

If you’re looking to buy investment property this year, it’s a good idea to look into emerging markets, rather than already “hot” options.

The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com recently released their list of the top emerging housing markets based on market data, economic conditions and lifestyle metrics. The markets they identified “offer a high quality of life and are expected to see future home price appreciation.”

In addition, the top emerging markets feature low living costs, robust employment opportunities and easy commutes for residents.

Zoocasa analyzed median home prices and calculated the one-year and three-year price changes. Many of these markets have already seen high levels of price appreciation in recent years, so it’s best to buy now before prices soar.

Here’s a look at the cost to buy a home in the top 20 emerging markets, ranked by median price.

• Median home price: $199,600
• 1-year growth: 5.7%
• 3-year growth: 36.3%

• Median home price: $199,800
• 1-year growth: 10.2%
• 3-year growth: 28.6%

• Median home price: $217,192
• 1-year growth: 1.2%
• 3-year growth: N/A

Pictured: Dayton, Ohio

• Median home price: $223,750
• 1-year growth: 6.5%
• 3-year growth: 20.9%

• Median home price: $243,000
• 1-year growth: 12.9%
• 3-year growth: 43.5%

• Median home price: $249,900
• 1-year growth: 12%
• 3-year growth: N/A

• Median home price: $250,000
• 1-year growth: 2.1%
• 3-year growth: 24.4%

• Median home price: $254,900
• 1-year growth: 13.7%
• 3-year growth: 45%

• Median home price: $261,500
• 1-year growth: 15.2%
• 3-year growth: 49.1%

• Median home price: $261,800
• 1-year growth: 10.5%
• 3-year growth: 57.1%

• Median home price: $266,500
• 1-year growth: 9%
• 3-year growth: N/A

• Median home price: $272,900
• 1-year growth: 6.1%
• 3-year growth: 25.6%

• Median home price: $301,500
• 1-year growth: 9.3%
• 3-year growth: 59.4%

• Median home price: $323,400
• 1-year growth: 3.6%
• 3-year growth: 34.3%

• Median home price: $350,600
• 1-year growth: 5.9%
• 3-year growth: 52.6%

• Median home price: $375,100
• 1-year growth: 9%
• 3-year growth: 41.8%

• Median home price: $390,000
• 1-year growth: 4%
• 3-year growth: 20%

• Median home price: $456,500
• 1-year growth: 5.9%
• 3-year growth: 40.4%

• Median home price: $456,500
• 1-year growth: 8%
• 3-year growth: 41.3%

• Median home price: $1,370,000
• 1-year growth: 22.9%
• 3-year growth: 32.1%

Pictured: Santa Barbara, California

The list of top emerging markets is sourced from The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com and is accurate as of Oct. 25, 2023. Median home price and price growth information is sourced from Zoocasa and is accurate as of June 6, 2024.