Raleigh at #1: The Reasoning Matters More Than the Ranking

Raleigh at #1: The Reasoning Matters More Than the Ranking

I reference Travel + Leisure fairly often, usually when we're talking about where to travel, where to eat, or the places people increasingly want to experience.

So it particularly caught my attention when the magazine turned to real estate appreciation and put Raleigh at #1 on its list of “9 U.S. Cities to Buy a Home in Before Prices Soar, According to Real Estate Experts.”

That doesn't mean I expect Raleigh home prices to suddenly “soar.”

Real estate is far more nuanced than a headline, and our current market has actually given buyers more negotiating power and more time to make thoughtful decisions than we saw during the frenzy of a few years ago.

But I do think the reasoning behind the ranking is important.

Travel + Leisure points to several forces we have been watching locally for years: continued migration into North Carolina, technology and business growth, significant development, higher-net-worth households moving into the area, and limited housing supply in some of Raleigh's most desirable locations.

The article specifically calls out North Raleigh, noting that some areas of Raleigh have already moved beyond what many buyers would consider affordable. It cites an average North Raleigh home value, per Zillow, of just under $500,000.

Appreciation Is About More Than Today's Market

When I advise clients about real estate, I try to separate the current housing market from the long-term investment thesis.

Interest rates, inventory and buyer sentiment can change significantly from one year to the next. The underlying characteristics that make a city desirable tend to move much more slowly.

That's where Raleigh continues to be interesting.

We have a diverse employment base, major universities and healthcare systems, continued corporate investment, a strong quality of life, and desirable neighborhoods where creating substantially more housing isn't always easy.

None of those things guarantee appreciation.

But over a long ownership period, I would rather own real estate in a place where people and capital continue to want to go.

The Lifestyle Piece Matters, Too

Maybe that's why I particularly enjoyed seeing this from Travel + Leisure.

People don't choose where to live based solely on spreadsheets. They choose communities because of restaurants, parks, schools, architecture, culture, travel accessibility and the way a place actually feels.

Those lifestyle factors eventually become economic factors when enough people want the same thing.

For those of us who already call Raleigh home, the recognition isn't particularly surprising. But seeing a national publication known for identifying desirable destinations rank Raleigh #1 for prospective homebuyers is another interesting data point in the city's longer-term story.

And whether you're buying a primary residence, considering an investment property or deciding whether to hold or sell something you already own, the long-term trajectory of the location matters just as much as today's market.

That's the conversation I'm always interested in having.

Read the Travel + Leisure Article

“9 U.S. Cities to Buy a Home in Before Prices Soar, According to Real Estate Experts”
By Lydia Mansel | August 13, 2026