{"id":171133,"date":"2024-04-24T12:48:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T18:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=171133"},"modified":"2024-06-20T03:48:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T09:48:09","slug":"best-sunbelt-markets-for-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/best-sunbelt-markets-for-growth","title":{"rendered":"Sunbelt Surge: 15 Cities Dominating the Growth Charts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n      <iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=BIGPOC6330732126\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\r\n  \n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Simply investing in any metro Sunbelt market is not a recipe for success. To catch a cresting wave of appreciation and&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/rental-property-cash-flow-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">cash flow<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, you\u2019ll need to dive deep into the metrics to examine where people are moving to, how property and rental prices are increasing, and what the unemployment rate is like.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The good news is that we\u2019ve done it all for you! So stop throwing darts at the map, examine our findings, and pick markets like the savvy, switched-on investor you are.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe title=\"Top 15 Growth Markets\" aria-label=\"Table\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-cZpph\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/cZpph\/1\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" height=\"757\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();\n<\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rental Oversupply and Interest Rates Are Having an Effect<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The first thing you\u2019ll notice when looking at the table is that neither house prices nor rents in our top markets are growing at a great clip. Some are declining. After the frothy post-pandemic period in 2021, when prices and rents took off like spaceships, the advent of high interest rates has done what was intended: slammed the brakes on an exuberant house-buying market.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An increase in rental units has compounded this, as many new apartments came to market to accommodate population increases fueled by relocating job markets. National data, analytics, and listing site CoStar had the same findings in a&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.costar.com\/article\/1940730014\/rising-sun-belt-apartment-supply-holds-us-rent-growth-below-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">recent report<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cThe U.S.&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/finding-multifamily-properties\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">multifamily<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;market staged a strong rebound in 2023 as the number of units absorbed rose by 122% year over year to 332,000 units,\u201d Jay Lybik, national director of multifamily analytics at CoStar, said in a statement on their organization\u2019s website. While the increase in demand was impressive, it was overshadowed by the influx of new units, causing imbalances in supply and demand and pushing vacancy rates higher.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Costar\u2019s report stated that roughly 565,000 new units became available over the last year, mostly in Sunbelt states<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, with<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;oversupply&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">causing<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;rents to drop in some Southern markets, as our table shows.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Austin Hits The Brakes<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Nowhere has the home growth slowdown been more acute than in Austin, Texas, the poster child for the Texas tech boom, where our data shows a 6.29% decrease in home prices and a 3.01% decrease in rents over the year. It\u2019s a decline from its dizzying high&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;just a few years ago, when investors purchased a record $9.4 billion in apartments in 2021, according to MSCI Real Assets, and rents increased 20%, more significant than anywhere else in the country.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The actual decrease is more profound than our YOY data shows<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, with the<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freddiemac.com\/research\/indices\/house-price-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Freddie Mac House Price Index<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">revealing<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;prices have fallen more than 11% since peaking in 2022, the most significant drop of any metro area in the country, according to the&nbsp;<\/span><em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/economy\/housing\/once-americas-hottest-housing-market-austin-is-running-in-reverse-94226027\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wall Street Journal<\/span><\/a><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201c<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Clearly,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">there\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;some pockets of overbuilding,\u201d apartment investor Larry Connor, whose company manages a 15,000-unit national portfolio, told the&nbsp;<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WSJ<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, counting Austin out would be a mistake. The area has so many&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.movetoaustin.org\/blog\/major-tech-companies-austin-tx\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">major tech companies&nbsp;<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">that once the market stabilizes, values will inevitably increase.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Charleston's Tourism Is a $12 Billion Industry.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Interestingly, although Charleston, South Carolina, came in toward the bottom of our listing, that was due to its population growth&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">only<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;Based on its house prices (up 6.31%) and rental increases (up 7.03%), the area is booming, which indicates that many of its jobs are&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">being filled<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;by locals. According to the&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2023\/population-trends-return-to-pre-pandemic-norms.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">U.S. Census<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, South Carolina surpassed Florida as the fastest-growing state in the country last year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to South Carolina\u2019s&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/dew.sc.gov\/index.php\/labor-market-information-blog\/2023-12\/charleston-tops-latest-metro-area-employment-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">state website<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, North Charleston, South Carolina, which includes Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, had the&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">largest<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;percentage gain in nonfarm employment from October 2022 to October 2023. Employment rose from 402,300 to 426,800, reflecting a total change of 24,500, or 6.1%.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlestoncountydevelopment.org\/for-site-selectors\/leading-employers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">largest private employers<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;in Charleston are in healthcare, aviation (Boeing), and retail (Walmart).&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, one of the biggest drivers of employment&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is tourism<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which adds&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.live5news.com\/2023\/09\/08\/tourism-revenue-stabilizing-after-record-breaking-post-pandemic-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$12 billion<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;to the local economy.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;Tourism would account for the increase in house prices and local employment.&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airdna.co\/vacation-rental-data\/app\/us\/south-carolina\/charleston\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AirDNA statistics<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;support this by showing double the active&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/guides\/the-ultimate-guide-to-short-term-rental-properties\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">short-term rental<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;listings in 12 months.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Highest-Growth Sunbelt Cities<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The fastest-growing Sunbelt cities are all relatively close to one another: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">followed by<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;three Florida cities: Lakeland, Fort Myers, and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton. Here\u2019s a deeper dive into each.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Myrtle Beach, South Carolina<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Myrtle Beach is not only one of the fastest-growing cities in the&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sunbelt,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;but the fastest-growing in the country according to&nbsp;<\/span><em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/realestate.usnews.com\/places\/rankings\/fastest-growing-places\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">U.S. News and World Report<\/span><\/a><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2019s annual list of fastest-growing places in America, which bases its list on net migration. Our data ratified this, showing 5.17% population growth, a stable 2.08% house price growth, and 3.65% rental price growth.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A significant component of Myrtle Beach\u2019s success has been diversifying away from purely tourism. \u201cWe\u2019ve said for&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a number of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;years that a key component of making this a year-round livable place is to diversify our job base and that we\u2019re not wholly dependent on the summer seasons and the summer tourism industry,\u201d assistant city manager Brian Tucker told&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wbtw.com\/growthtracker\/myrtle-beach-named-fastest-growing-us-city-for-3rd-straight-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">News 13<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, a local TV station. \u201cWe have to have those job creators year-round.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, many year-round movers&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to the area<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;are not drawn to the area for work but are&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/myrtle-beach-tops-charts-city-110000762.html#:~:text=Hire%20a%20Helper,%20another%20moving,Conway%20and%20North%20Myrtle%20Beach.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">retirees or work remotely<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Horry County, for example, has seen an explosion of growth over the past 20-plus years, increasing from 198,000 people in 2000 to over 380,000 in 2022. Moving company Hire a Helper found that 16,000 retirees, most over 55, moved to the Myrtle Beach&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">area<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lakeland, Florida<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Our numbers showed that Lakeland saw a healthy 4.5% population growth in 2023, a modest 0.87%&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">home price growth<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and 1.63% rental growth.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the main draws to the area is its location between Orlando and Tampa. It retains a small-town feel, has lower housing costs, and is less crowded than the suburbs of the two major cities surrounding it.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lakeland offers&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/laltoday.6amcity.com\/new-to-lakeland\/top-industries-employers-lakeland-fl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">diverse employment&nbsp;<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">opportunities in education, healthcare, aviation, and logistics. It\u2019s an excellent choice for people to live and retire, mainly if&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-real-world-impacts-on-remote-work-and-what-it-did-for-investors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">remote work<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;is an option.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fort Myers, Florida<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Located between Tampa and Miami on Florida\u2019s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers has many of the same attributes as Lakeland, in that it is not as expensive as some of the more glamorous cities in Florida and has a laid-back charm, with the addition of a vibrant downtown bar scene in the River District. It\u2019s also a haven for outdoor and water enthusiasts.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are employment opportunities&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">here<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;in healthcare, retail, education, and tourism.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The commute to Naples is&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">not far<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;for work in the hospitality industry at many hotels.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/realestate.usnews.com\/places\/rankings\/fastest-growing-places\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">U.S. News<\/span><\/a><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;ranked Fort Myers No. 3 as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country in 2023-2024. Our figures show a healthy population growth of 4.38% and a marginal house price growth of 0.15% (due to interest rates and explosive growth when rates were lower). Rental growth has dropped 1.58% over the last year due to a rapid increase during high inflation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like many cities in Florida, Fort Myers is a magnet for retirees, with residents 65 and older making up nearly a quarter of the city\u2019s population.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Located close to Lakeland, with many of the same attributes, lower house prices, and a quieter pace than nearby Tampa and Miami, the area is busy with new developments such as Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the opening of a 1920s house-museum in Newtown, the city\u2019s historic Black district.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Our figures showed population growth of 3.68%, with home price growth dropping 0.42% and rent growth dropping 0.20%.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the draws to the greater Sarasota area for New Yorkers is not only its proximity to target cities<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">,&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">but also its active arts scene (Sarasota Orchestra, the Asolo Repertory Theatre, the Sarasota Opera House, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall)<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, as well as<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;popular white sandy beaches.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With a large population of retirees, it\u2019s not surprising that healthcare is one of the big employers in the area, with the&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edcsarasotacounty.com\/top-industry-employers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sarasota Memorial Health Care System<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;employing 6,550 people. A sophisticated arts scene appears to come with a price, however, as the median home price is over $450,000 and the median rent $2,382, which puts it out of the reach of many retirees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lower taxes, warm weather, and an affordable cost of living are the main reasons businesses and people have been moving to the Sunbelt, particularly Florida. According to&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/visualizations\/interactive\/bfs-by-state.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">U.S. Census data<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, Florida was the top location for newly formed business entities. Of the 5.8 million new business applications filed nationally from January 2021 to January 2022,<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.business.com\/articles\/why-companies-are-moving-to-florida\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;683,680, or 12%, were in Florida<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These businesses have spanned the gamut in size and scope, ranging from behemoths such as real estate investment group Blackstone, global investment bank Goldman Sachs, and autonomous vehicle technology company Argo AI to hundreds of smaller businesses. Combine this with remote work options and a perennially favorite spot for retirees, and you can see why Florida is\u2014excuse the analogy\u2014amid a perfect&nbsp;<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">storm of migration<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The reasons for moving to Texas and other Sunbelt states are similar to those of Florida: work, weather, and a welcoming cost of living. So long as these remain intact, it\u2019s hard to see how the Sunbelt won\u2019t continue to tighten its hold on Americans looking to escape the cold, overcrowding, and high cost of living in other parts of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Investors have two main choices regarding Sunbelt housing: appeal to retirees who are hesitant to commit to long-term mortgages or appeal to the influx of younger movers drawn to jobs, the weather, and affordable rents.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-slate-200-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-theme-slate-dark-color has-text-color\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-theme-blue-color\">Exclusive Breakdown and Data Analysis of the Hottest Region for Investors<\/mark> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 34%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It's no secret the Sunbelt has been a primary focus of investors for years due to appreciation and rent growth. But which markets offer the best opportunities for cash flow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download our <strong>Sunbelt Market worksheet<\/strong> for a synopsis of the most popular metros and states for investors, and get the <strong>full data for all states and markets<\/strong> in our accompanying Sunbelt Market Intel spreadsheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div x-data=\"frictionlessSignupForm()\" class=\"button-account-type alignleft\">\n\n  \n\n  <!-- Guest Button -->\n      <template x-if=\"!$store.wp.isMember()\">              <button x-on:click=\"$store.wp.displaySignupPrompt()\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-blue-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\">Sign Up to Download<\/button>\n          <\/template>  \n  <!-- Free Member Button -->\n      <template x-if=\"$store.wp.isMember() &#038;&#038; !$store.wp.isPaidMember()\">              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Sunbelt-Markets.zip\" target=\"_blank\" x-on:click=\"window.analytics.track(&#039;Blog | Market Intelligence | Sunbelt&#039;, {\n            referrer: &#039;https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/best-sunbelt-markets-for-growth&#039;,\n            account_type: &#039;free&#039;,\n          });\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-blue-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\">Download the Data Worksheet<\/a>\n          <\/template>  \n  <!-- Pro Member Button -->\n      <template x-if=\"$store.wp.isPaidMember()\">      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Sunbelt-Markets.zip\" target=\"_blank\" x-on:click=\"window.analytics.track(&#039;Blog | Market Intelligence | Sunbelt&#039;, {\n          referrer: &#039;https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/best-sunbelt-markets-for-growth&#039;,\n          account_type: &#039;pro&#039;,\n        });\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-blue-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\">Download the Data Worksheet<\/a>\n    <\/template>  \n  <!-- Frictionless Popup -->\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MI-April24_Blog-Thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"sunbelt markets market intelligence\" class=\"wp-image-170016 size-full\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MI-April24_Blog-Thumbnail.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MI-April24_Blog-Thumbnail-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MI-April24_Blog-Thumbnail-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MI-April24_Blog-Thumbnail-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MI-April24_Blog-Thumbnail-200x200.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Simply investing in any metro Sunbelt market is not a recipe for success. To catch a cresting wave of appreciation and&nbsp;cash flow, you\u2019ll need to dive deep into the metrics [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613725,"featured_media":171136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7119,7364],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biggerpockets-daily","category-housing-markets"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613725"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171133\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}