Whether you’re in the real estate business or just looking for a place to call home, it’s important to get a handle on the housing markets you’re considering before investing in a property.

If you aim to make a profit in the long run with your housing purchase, you’ll need to look beyond tangible factors like square footage and style. Those factors certainly drive up property values. From an investor’s standpoint, though, they hold less significance than historical market trends and the economic health of residents.

To determine the best local real estate markets in the U.S., WalletHub compared 300 cities of varying sizes across 17 key indicators of housing-market attractiveness and economic strength. Our data set ranges from median home-price appreciation to housing affordability to job growth.

Ask The Experts

Economic indicators point to a strong housing market, but does that mean it’s a good time to buy a home? We consulted a panel of experts for their insight. Click on the panelists’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. Is now a good time to buy a home? What economic indicators should potential buyers be watching?
2. How has inflation affected housing prices and the home-buying process? What changes should we expect in the housing market during the upcoming months?
3. How likely is it that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates in the coming months? How will this impact the housing market?
4. Why are Millennials still sitting out of the housing market? What can be done to increase homeownership rates for this cohort?
5. What trends are impacting the housing market in 2026? Will it crash or boom?