House flipping TV shows are as popular as ever. If you’ve been tempted to get into this money-making venture yourself, it’s not as lucrative as it used to be. With higher prices across the country and skyrocketing labor costs, margins on flipping investment properties have gotten tighter. Choosing the right market is key. Our agents across the country have rounded up the best real estate markets for flipping houses in 2026.
Key Takeaways

Flipping profitability has declined nationally, with gross ROI now around 25.5%, down from 61.1% in 2012. Choosing the right market is critical.
The best real estate markets for flipping houses have affordable entry prices, tight inventory, older housing stock, and low average days on market.
Use the 70% rule as a guideline: never pay more than 70% of a property’s after-improvement value minus renovation costs.
Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Shreveport are among the highest-ROI flip markets in the country, with gross returns ranging . ...

The US housing market is not moving in one straight line. According to the REMAX April 2026 National Housing Report, home sales increased in April, but new listings grew even faster, creating more available inventory and continuing the shift toward a more balanced market. For buyers, sellers, and investors, understanding which cities are moving quickly and which are slowing down can make a big difference in timing, pricing, and expectations.

Using REMAX data and feedback from real estate agents working across the country, we’ve assembled this guide to what’s driving prices in 2026, and where the best housing markets in America are right now.

Key Takeaways


The US housing market continued moving toward better balance in April 2026.


Home sales increased 7.6% from March, while new listings rose 10.5%.


The median sales price across the 51 metro areas surveyed was $445,000, up 1.5% year over year.


Inventory increased 4.5% from March and 2.0% year over ...

The US housing market has entered a new stage. Buyers are no longer simply trading expensive metros for extra square footage. They are searching for places where the math feels manageable, career growth still has room to unfold, and homeownership does not require stretching every dollar to its limit. That shift is bringing smaller and mid-sized markets into sharper focus. Cities such as Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, Des Moines, Jacksonville, and Albuquerque are drawing attention because they offer a practical, sustainable path into homeownership that many larger metros have made harder to find.
Key Takeaways

Smaller markets are becoming choice markets, not fallback markets, because buyers can compare options instead of chasing one overpriced listing.
The strongest smaller markets have built-in demand anchors like hospitals, universities, logistics hubs, downtown reinvestment, or major employers.
Resale potential is highly local, so buyers need to evaluate the neighborhoo ...

Homeownership has started to feel out of reach for many buyers, especially younger households trying to enter the market for the first time. For Gen Z and millennial buyers, the path to buying now takes more planning, more patience, and a clearer strategy. Still, feeling priced out today does not mean the door is closed for good. The question ‘why can’t I buy a house’ usually points to a few connected roadblocks, from financing to market timing. Once those barriers to homeownership are easier to see, buyers can start building a path that feels more realistic.
Key Takeaways

Rising insurance costs can be the hidden factor that pushes a home out of reach, even when the mortgage payment looks manageable.
The down payment is only one hurdle. Buyers also need reserves for repairs, moving costs, utilities, and unexpected expenses after closing.
A turnkey home can come with a premium, which means buyers may be financing cosmetic upgrades over the life of the mortgage ...

Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, and many smaller decisions feed into it. One of the things first-time home buyers ask is “How much house can I afford?” The answer depends on some key variables:

Salary
Credit score
Down payment
The interest rate you qualify for
The market you’re buying in

With data from REMAX and input from our real estate experts, this guide goes through how each of these variables helps to answer the question “how much house can I afford as a first-time buyer?”
Key Takeaways

The 28/36 rule is a widely used guideline to help buyers determine a manageable monthly housing budget.
Income levels significantly affect affordability, with higher salaries increasing both monthly budget and overall purchasing power.
Factors like credit score, debt, and down payment size affect how big a mortgage you qualify for.
Buying below your maximum pre-approval amount gives you more f ...