Serhant founder & CEO Ryan Serhant shares his perspective on the housing market on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
With mortgage charges anticipated to float towards 6% within the coming 12 months, 10 U.S. markets might see a significant increase as patrons regain buying energy.
The Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors (NAR) not too long ago checked out 10 key indicators, together with how decrease charges have an effect on shopping for energy, how nicely residence costs match native incomes, migration developments and job progress to search out the place “residence gross sales will doubtless be liveliest within the coming 12 months.”
To make the listing, every space wanted a inhabitants over 250,000, stronger efficiency than the U.S. on a minimum of 5 indicators and clear alternatives for patrons and Realtors, based on the report.
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The highest 10 residence shopping for scorching spots embrace:
Charleston, South Carolina
The French Quarter in Charleston, S.C. (iStock)
Charleston’s stock is rising within the $200,000–$350,000 vary, and greater than 20,000 further households would qualify for a median-priced residence with charges at 6%.
Millennials make up 36% of native households, and the world has sturdy job and earnings progress, based on NAR.
“Charleston has a big pool of renters who’re simply on the fringe of affordability,” the report famous. “A shift from 7% to six% considerably expands the variety of native households who qualify for the median residence.”
Charlotte, North Carolina
Over 52,000 extra households would qualify for a median-priced residence at a 6% mortgage fee. The metro has a robust migration influx, earnings beneficial properties, job progress and excessive millennial focus.
“Charlotte’s profitable components in 2026 is straightforward: younger patrons, sturdy jobs, and extra listings the place folks want them,” the report famous.
Columbus, Ohio

A view of Columbus, Ohio. (iStock)
Greater than 41,000 further households would qualify at a 6% mortgage fee. Millennials make up 37.5% of the world, incomes are up in comparison with the prior 12 months and job progress is powerful, based on the report.
“Columbus continues to outperform expectations as one of many Midwest’s most resilient and secure housing markets. Earnings progress stays stronger than the U.S. common, and investments — together with logistics expansions — are bringing high-quality jobs that assist long-term housing demand,” NAR famous.
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Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is without doubt one of the “most balanced and opportunity-rich markets heading into 2026,” based on NAR.
Greater than 42,700 further households would qualify at a 6% fee, and the world has a robust millennial presence, strong job beneficial properties and a robust match between residence costs and native incomes.
Jacksonville, Florida
“Jacksonville is without doubt one of the Florida markets the place each affordability and stock are enhancing on the similar time,” NAR famous.
Greater than 39,700 further households qualify for a median-priced residence at a 6% fee. The world additionally has sturdy earnings progress and rising migration.
Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

A view of Minneapolis. (iStock)
The Twin Cities acquire greater than 81,000 newly certified households with charges at 6%.
Extra properties within the $250,000–$450,000 vary are returning to the market, and the world exhibits sturdy job progress, a excessive focus of millennial households and stronger alignment between costs and incomes.
“Minneapolis is without doubt one of the nation’s most responsive markets to decrease charges — and 2026 will present it,” NAR famous.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Practically 27,000 extra households qualify with decrease charges.
Raleigh has sturdy earnings progress, a excessive millennial inhabitants, strong job beneficial properties and a stronger match between incomes and residential costs.
“Raleigh’s mixture of fast-growing incomes and better-aligned stock makes it one of many clearest alternative markets of 2026,” NAR famous.
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Richmond, Virginia
Greater than 25,500 further households qualify for a median-priced residence with mortgage charges at 6%.
One of many “most quietly highly effective alternative markets in 2026,” Richmond has sturdy job beneficial properties, fewer worth cuts than the nationwide common, a stronger match between residence costs and incomes and a robust millennial presence.
“Richmond’s energy lies in its stability — and in 2026, that stability turns into alternative,” the report famous.
Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah

A view of downtown Salt Lake Metropolis (iStock)
About 25,000 further households might afford a median-priced residence at 6%.
Salt Lake Metropolis has a robust millennial presence, sturdy earnings progress, strong job beneficial properties and listings more and more align with native incomes.
“Salt Lake Metropolis’s youthful demographics and enhancing stock make it one of many largest beneficiaries of decrease charges in 2026,” NAR famous. “Listings aligned with incomes surged 20.7% year-over-year, making it one of many largest affordability rebound markets.”
Spokane, Washington
“Spokane is without doubt one of the few Western metros the place each affordability and stock are trending in the proper course,” the report famous.
Over 9,500 further households in Spokane qualify for a median-priced residence with mortgage charges at 6%. The market additionally has sturdy earnings progress, excessive millennial focus and fewer worth cuts than the nationwide common.
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Mortgage charges inched up this previous Thursday as markets reacted to the Federal Reserve’s determination to chop its benchmark rate of interest for the third straight time, in accordance to Realtor.com.
The typical 30-year fastened mortgage fee climbed to six.22% for the week ending Dec. 11, up from 6.19% the earlier week, based on Freddie Mac. A 12 months earlier, charges averaged 6.60%.

