Best States to Buy a House: Top Picks for Smart Investments

America’s housing market has a lot of great options and many places you can choose to build your home, whether it’s your first home purchase, or part of your investment portfolio. When you’re thinking about a house for personal use or as an investment, choosing the location is crucial. Combinations of financial value, lifestyle options, and return on investment potential are found in every state. Picking the right state can substantially impact how much you make from your real estate investments as prices continue to rise. Let’s take a look at a few of the best states to invest in real estate, and whether they will work for you.

 

If you’re interested in opening your horizons wider than the United States, you’ll find some great suggestions in our article on the Best Countries for Expats to Renovate in 2025. No matter how adventurous you’re feeling in your real estate choices, a great opportunity is waiting.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a State

Before listing particular states to consider, let’s talk about what makes a location appealing for purchasing a home. These include:

Affordability

Purchase price, property taxes, and cost of living make a big difference in figuring out what you can afford to spend. Various states have affordable living conditions with high-quality amenities and employment options.

Job Market & Economy

An active economy makes for a powerful housing sector. Communities experiencing rising job growth in sectors like technology, healthcare, and finance benefit from higher property appreciation. Before buying a home, you have to take into account the existing economy and what type of job prospects you’ll find there now, and in the future. If you’re unlikely to find a good job, paying the mortgage will be a problem, no matter how nice the neighborhood feels.

Quality of Life

For many families, the appeal of each state greatly relies on the schools, health services, leisure activities, and transportation options you’ll find there. A desirable quality of life makes all the difference in your enjoyment of living in each particular place and boosts home value over the years.

Climate & Lifestyle Preferences

What type of weather do you enjoy more? Only the warmer seasons, or the diversity of the four seasons? Some states stand out depending on their climate and weather you’ll have enough outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the year. Choosing a state that fits into your lifestyle is essential, whether you like mountain views or a relaxed country setting.

Property Appreciation

Most home buyers, including investors, aim to buy a property in a location where the overall value of properties will continue to grow. Different factors such as demand, economic growth, and population trends will help set the property’s value and growth over time. Buying a home in a state where property value is likely to increase is always a wise investment.

Best States to Buy a House

Now that we know what to look for, we can examine the top states for home purchase in the U.S., taking into consideration affordability, investment growth, and quality of life.

1. Texas

For a long time, many homebuyers have chosen Texas as their favorite location. With low housing costs and a vibrant economy, the state attracts both buyers and investors. Recent years have seen major growth in cities such as Austin, Dallas, and Houston, leading to booming job markets especially active in the fields of technology, energy, and healthcare.

Texas boasts high living standards including affordable real estate, while offering impressive schools and diverse cultural experiences. In this state, the value of your investment often exceeds your expectations.

2. Florida

Florida is well-known and generally chosen for its warmth and its tranquil lifestyle. It is a highly desirable state for home buyers, and especially for retirees and real estate investors. Unlike many states that impose state income taxes on residents and businesses alike, Florida has no such tax, making it especially attractive financially.

Florida’s real estate market is thriving and sees great interest in places such as Miami and Orlando. In the Sunshine State, tourism has a major influence on the economy, and vacation rentals and investment properties are highly sought after. If you want a permanent residence or a second home in a tropical location Florida has many choices available.

3. North Carolina

Many people know North Carolina as a top state because of its low prices and development opportunities. You will find both seaside houses and land properties that can suit your taste. Raleigh and Charlotte are the largest cities in North Carolina and are going through a rapid growth phase, with fast development in the technology and finance sectors.

North Carolina is appealing because it has a lot of affordable homes alongside an excellent lifestyle. Schools and healthcare are high in quality, and many job prospects are available in the mountains and beach areas of the state.

4. Tennessee

Tennessee’s reputation keeps rising because of its low cost of living and affordable options in lively cities like Nashville and Chattanooga. A variety of urban and rural homes is available in the state, while home costs stay low compared to nearby states.

The urban centers of Tennessee attract a lot of interest in the rental market as well. Short-term rentals and tourism flourish in Nashville because of its active music culture.

5. Arizona

On top of its affordable housing options, Arizona has a vibrant economy. Phoenix and Tucson have done especially well in recent years, as new residents relocate from other more expensive states like California.

The housing market of Arizona benefits from its low tax rates on real estate and reasonable property costs, along with a robust job market in sectors such as healthcare, technology, and education. Arizona is a state that offers fantastic weather and inexpensive living. It’s not hard to see why it’s on our top 5 list. 

Additional Up-and-Coming States to Watch

Georgia

The housing market in Georgia is increasing significantly in places such as Atlanta. Georgia is quickly turning into a popular destination for buyers due to low housing costs, and a flourishing economy. It offers a very good mix of urban and rural living, plus a great climate and easy access to both the mountains and the beach.

Colorado

High real estate costs in Colorado might turn people away from the state; nonetheless, its stunning views and rapid growth in jobs keep it in demand. Although Denver marks the hot center of growth in Colorado, a lot of interest is also seen in cities like Fort Collins and Boulder.

Ohio

Even though Ohio is not the first state that comes to mind when choosing a place to buy a home, it ranks among the lowest-priced in the country. Communities like Cleveland and Columbus give excellent investment returns to homeowners and investors, with their fair housing prices and strong employment options.

How Remote Renovation Services Can Help You

Whether you purchase in a bustling city or a charming suburb, a well-maintained property will greatly boost its value. This is where RemoteBuilder can help. Our team excels at providing remote renovation services while you’re renovating from out of state, to help you enhance and modernize your property from anywhere. Whether in Texas, Florida, or North Carolina if you are purchasing a home, we are ready to help you complete a hassle-free renovation.

With our services, you’ll get:

• Virtual Consultations: Create your renovation designs and plans from any location.
• Remote Supervision: Our team manages all steps of the renovation to provide a quality service and experience.
• Time and Cost Efficiency: We will direct the entire project to make sure it is finished on time and stays within your budget.

 

Selecting the ideal state for purchasing a house is one of the key choices you need to make. If you are concerned about affordable options or job prospects, the states we’ve suggested here can meet and even exceed your expectations. 

If you want to increase the worth of your new house, don’t forget that RemoteBuilder can assist you with any renovations. In-state or out-of-state; we’ll take care of the project to help you enjoy your new home to the fullest.