May 2018

Hottest US Real Estate Markets 2018

After another year of rising home prices and declining inventory across the USA, it has become increasingly difficult to find a market which can fetch a reasonable return on your investment. In 2018, the US real estate market shows no signs of slowing, and is slated to remain among the world’s top performers, according to a forecast from Fitch Ratings. The home prices are expected to rise 4.6 percent in 2018. Here are the 8 hottest US real estate markets to watch in 2018. These markets offer a rare combination of better than average job growth, good development and some runway before homes become overpriced. For example, Orlando home prices increased 9% in 2017, hitting an average of $247,550. The market forecast is that the prices will increase 35% by the start of 2021. Similarly, we have presented the forecast and trends of the seven other top performers in the US real estate market.

Once the market starts to rebound, investing in real property also becomes a more appealing idea — either as a career or a great side job. Like any other endeavor, though, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

Bankrate.com spoke with established, full-time real estate investors and with professionals, such as bankers, to identify the types of traps into which real estate investors most often fall.

1. Planning as you go

Andy Heller, an Atlanta-based investor and co-author of “Buy Even Lower: The Regular People’s Guide to Real Estate Riches,” says lack of a plan is the biggest mistake he sees new investors make. They buy a house because they think they got a good deal and then try to figure out what to do with it. That’s working backward, Heller says. “First, you find the plan,” he says. “Then you find the house to fit the plan. Pick your investment model, and then go find property to match that. Don’t find the strategy after you find the home.”

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