The top 10 cities to buy a newly built home in the US

Aug 29, 2026 07:31 PM - 2 hours ago 3

Aerial position of historical Charleston rooftops and religion steeples astatine sunset nether a colorful sky.

Charleston, South Carolina. Kruck20/Getty Images

Nearly halfway done the year, the lodging marketplace remains stuck successful a acquainted rut: Many homeowners pinch low owe rates are staying put, leaving prospective buyers to compete for the fewer homes disposable for sale.

The bully news is that homebuilders are stepping up building efforts, peculiarly successful the South, according to a study from Realtor.com. The institution classed the 10 metros wherever buyers are astir apt to find a recently built location astatine a competitory price.

"New building is 1 of the astir important ways to grow the proviso of homes disposable to buyers, but the opportunity is not evenly distributed crossed the country," said Realtor.com elder economist Joel Berner. He added that builders successful the South are constructing homes "at prices that compete with, and successful immoderate cases beat, existing homes."

North and South Carolina predominate the ranking, pinch six metros appearing connected the list. In caller years, the Carolinas person attracted galore Americans pinch their comparatively affordable location prices and costs of living, arsenic good arsenic draws specified arsenic small-town charm and historical sites.

Florida successful peculiar has been a awesome root of inbound migration to the Carolinas, particularly North Carolina. State-to-state migration information from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that astir 40,000 group moved from Florida to North Carolina successful 2023 — the largest number of movers from immoderate state, including South Carolina.

Native Floridian Kimberly Jones antecedently told Business Insider that she moved to North Carolina successful 2025 for a little costs of surviving and to build a location she could afford.

It appears that builders are responding to that demand, too. Here are the 10 champion metros to bargain a recently built home, according to Realtor.com.

10. Columbia, SC

South Carolina State House and the surrounding downtown Columbia skyline.

Columbia, South Carolina. Sean Pavone/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 25.5%
  • New building premium: -3.0%
  • New building days connected market: 45

9. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

An aerial position of Durham, North Carolina.

Durham, North Carolina. David Sweatman/Getty Images
  • New building stock of Listings: 33%
  • New building premium: 8.7%
  • New building days connected market: 68

8. Madison, WI

Aerial position of downtown Madison pinch the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Madison, Wisconsin marchello74/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 30.8%
  • New building premium: 12.5%
  • New building days connected market: 70

7. Winston-Salem, NC

Downtown Winston-Salem skyline rises supra tree-filled neighborhoods.

Winston-Salem, NC. Kruck20/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 33%
  • New building premium: 9.7%
  • New building days connected market: 64

6. Chattanooga, TN-GA

Downtown Chattanooga skyline and the Tennessee River.

Chattanooga, TN-GA. Michael Warren/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 26.8%
  • New building premium: 10.1%
  • New building days connected market: 66

5. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN

Downtown Jacksonville skyline pinch high-rise towers, streets,  nether a cloudy sky.

Nashville. Dan Reynolds Photography/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 30.1%
  • New building premium: 5.1%
  • New building days connected market: 52

4. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Aerial position of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte, North Carolina. Kruck20/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 29.5%
  • New building premium: 4.7%
  • New building days connected market: 65

3. Boise City, ID

Downtown Boise skyline astatine dusk pinch ray trails starring toward the Idaho State Capitol.

Boise City, Idaho. Sean Pavone/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 53.4%
  • New building premium: -4.5%
  • New building days connected market: 61

2. Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC

Aerial position of the downtown Greenville district.

Greenville, South Carolina. Kruck20/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 33.4%
  • New building premium: -1.6%
  • New building days connected market: 60

1. Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Historic Charleston thoroughfare lined pinch thenar trees and colorful buildings.

Charleston, South Carolina. Sean Pavone/Getty Images
  • New building stock of listings: 24.8%
  • New building premium: -12.2%
  • New building days connected market: 48

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Alcynna Lloyd is simply a existent property newsman pinch Business Insider.  She writes astir homebuying behavior, mini homes, multi-generational housing, migration trends, and lodging affordability.Prior to joining Business Insider, Lloyd was the Digital Media Manager astatine HousingWire.Do you person feedback aliases a tip?  Find her connected X/Twitter, LinkedIn, aliases email [email protected]

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