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Top 10 Markets Where Prices Will Rise and Fall in 2026


Home prices reached an all-time high in early 2025, only to dip, recover, and return to almost exactly where they started. 

Nationwide, Zillow forecasts home prices will rise a modest 1.2% in 2026. But all real estate is, of course, local, and national trends conceal huge discrepancies in local markets. 

So which cities does Zillow forecast to see the largest gains and losses in 2026? What trends underlie those movements? And how am I investing to capitalize on these trends?

Top 10 Cities for Projected Gains

Looking at the latest 12-month home price projections from Zillow, the actual top 10 are micro-markets that tell us little about larger trends. Pulling out the top 10 “significant size” cities, however, some trends do start to emerge:

  1. Atlantic City, NJ: 5.3%
  2. Knoxville, TN: 4.3%
  3. Green Bay, WI: 4.1%
  4. New Haven, CT: 4%
  5. Hartford, CT: 3.9%
  6. Manchester, NH: 3.8%
  7. Appleton, WI: 3.7%
  8. Erie, PA: 3.1%
  9. South Bend, IN: 2.9%
  10. Lexington, KY: 2.8%

Most of those cities feel decidedly “unsexy,” located in either the Rust Belt or the old and mellow Northeast. 

Wisconsin native and real estate investor Austin Glanzer of 717HomeBuyers told BiggerPockets that it makes perfect sense. “Cities like Appleton and Green Bay combine steady job demand with relative affordability, which is exactly what’s driving price growth in secondary Midwest markets,” he added. “Buyers who are priced out of primary metros are still able to find attainable housing here, creating durable demand rather than speculative growth.”

Top 10 Cities for Projected Losses

On the other end of the spectrum, Zillow projects these cities to see the largest losses:

  1. New Orleans, LA: -4.7%
  2. Shreveport, LA: -4.3%
  3. Fairbanks, AK: -3.2%
  4. Austin, TX: -2.6%
  5. Corpus Christi, TX: -2.4%
  6. San Francisco, CA: -2.2%
  7. Denver, CO: -1.3%
  8. Cheyenne, WY: -1.1%
  9. Sacramento, CA: -1%
  10. Colorado Springs, CO: -1%

That list looks decidedly different from the first, largely located in the Sun Belt or once-rarified West. Many of those cities saw skyrocketing growth in the not-too-distant past. 

“Many of these cities experienced massive run-ups during the pandemic boom and remote-work migration peak,” notes investor Pavel Khaykin of Pavel Buys Houses, in a conversation with BiggerPockets. “We are witnessing a correction driven by factors like elevated inventory levels, high mortgage rates dampening demand, affordability constraints, and high property taxes.”

Trends Playing Out in 2026

The cities projected for stronger-than-average price growth in 2026 share several things in common. “In Midwestern cities like Green Bay and Erie, supply remains tight, and employment is stable, but prices are still accessible compared to national averages,” explains Lesley Hurst, owner of Penn Charter Abstract, to BiggerPockets. “Markets like these tend to outperform during uncertain cycles because they’re driven by end-user demand, not investors chasing appreciation.”

Home prices in these cities remain closely tied to local incomes and fundamentals, unlike markets that got out ahead of their skis, like, say, San Francisco, Austin, and Denver. 

Most lending industry analysts expect mortgage rates to stay above 6% in 2026. Zillow certainly does, and Redfin agrees, forecasting 6.3% average rates for the 30-year. So, don’t expect interest rates to move the needle on home prices. 

What will help lift home prices is the lack of new housing supply. Zillow notes that 2026 looks like it will have the fewest housing starts since before the pandemic. 

Don’t expect fireworks in most real estate markets in 2026. “It’s a rebalancing after a period of unsustainable growth,” adds Khaykin. 

Even so, the shift toward a buyers’ market in single-family homes and a balanced multifamily market offers plenty of opportunities for investors. 

How I’m Investing in Real Estate in 2026

I plan to continue investing similarly to my investment strategy in 2025, as I see the same trends driving the market. 

Stable, high-income multifamily

I will continue to invest in real estate every month as a small-dollar investor through a co-investing club. We meet on a Zoom call every month, vet a new investment together, and any member can invest with $5,000 or more. 

We’ve seen success with Midwestern multifamily properties with strong, predictable cash flow over the last two years. These typically pay 8% to 10% in distributions, and we plan to continue investing in these. In many cases, the operator plans to refinance them within three to four years, to return our investment capital even as we keep our ownership interest and continue collecting cash flow.  

We also like property tax abatement investments. The operator partners with the local municipality to set aside some or all of the units for affordable housing, in exchange for a partial or full property tax abatement. These come with some recession protection, as the affordable units generally have a wait list and 100% occupancy, and demand only goes up when times are tight. 

I wrote recently about how multifamily is one of the few asset classes that is clearly not in a bubble, because it already went through its bubble three years ago. It’s hard to say the same for stocks, gold, and many other kinds of investments right now. 

Land

We’ve also had great experiences with land investments. The short turnaround for land flips allows operators to shift their buy pricing down quickly when prices dip. 

As for recession risk, we plan to invest again with an operator we like who installs manufactured homes on land parcels and sells them to first-time homebuyers for half the local median price. Even in a recession, there will always be demand for half-priced homes. 

Conservative industrial seller-leaseback

Finally, we’ve had success with conservative industrial seller-leaseback investments. These work best when the single industrial tenant has a long history of success, and could be replaced with another tenant paying higher rent per square foot if they default. 

For example, we invested in one not long ago where the tenant had an order backlog over three years long. Their clients include the U.S. Navy. They’re not going anywhere. 

Other diverse real estate investments

Over the years, I’ve invested in dozens of states and cities, with dozens of operators, in virtually every asset class. 

What I Look For

I don’t have a crystal ball, and I don’t know what the next hot asset class will be, or the next hot market. I gave up the prediction game a long time ago. 

Today, I keep an open mind and simply look for asymmetric returns. I look for experienced, established operators who have invested through several market cycles, and deals that have some kind of extra downside risk protection. 

You can sit on the sidelines and watch your money lose value to inflation. Or you can join a co-investing club to assess risk alongside a community of other investors, and invest smaller amounts. I choose the latter.

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6 Real Ways to Make $500 A Day


Have you ever dreamed of earning $500 a day?

If so, you’re certainly not alone. But while it’s an enticing figure, achieving it requires more than just a magic wand.

This is not your typical “get rich quick” guide, and if you’re expecting overnight success, I’m afraid this isn’t the article for you.

Running Pinterest accounts for small local businesses is one of the ways I make well above $500 a day — but let’s be honest, it didn’t happen overnight.

Building a real, consistent income takes time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Today, I outsource a lot of the work like designing Pins and scheduling posts, so in many ways, I’m basically running a small agency. I focus on strategy and growth, while my team handles most of the daily tasks.

If you want a simple, low-risk way to start building real income online, managing Pinterest accounts is a smart move.

It’s exactly what I teach step-by-step inside the Pinterest Side Hustle Course, showing you how to start from scratch and grow a real business that can scale over time.

How To Make $500 A Day

Earning $500 a day is achievable, yes, but it requires patience, persistence, and a hefty amount of hard work.

It’s a journey, not a sprint, often involving several years of strategic planning and consistent effort. I’m talking about the kind of resilience that sees you through five, six, or more years of grit and grind.

In this blog post, I’ll share several proven strategies for reaching this ambitious goal. But bear in mind that these aren’t short cuts or quick fixes. They’re sustainable, long-term methods that, when pursued with dedication, can generate substantial income.

So, if you’re ready to take on the challenge, to dig deep, and to stick it out for the long haul, read on. However, I caution you to be wary of anyone promising you can reach this figure in a short period of time. Quick riches are often fleeting and rarely sustainable.

The journey to $500 a day is neither easy nor immediate, but with patience and tenacity, it is certainly achievable. Let’s dive into the ideas that can lead you there.

Youtube

YouTube is not only good for watching interesting videos and spending some quality time. It can also help you make some money, even without having thousands of subscribers or views!

Let me give you an example: I earn between $50-$100 per month from just one tutorial video I have on my channel.

So, what’s my secret? Affiliate marketing.

I created a simple tutorial on ‘How to Make a WordPress Website,’ and included an affiliate link to Hostgator hosting in the video description. Each time a viewer uses this link to register with Hostgator, I make $50.

The beauty of this strategy is that the majority of views for such tutorial videos come directly from search, which translates into a higher conversion rate. For me, this works out to be roughly $600 for every 1,000 views.

You’ll love: How I Grew My YouTube Channel From 0 to 100,000 in Less Than 2 Years

Now, just imagine the potential if you could create and post multiple videos like this. The numbers start to add up, and a daily income of $500 becomes less of a pipe dream and more of a realistic goal.

I won’t lie to you; the competition is fierce, and getting your video to rank high on YouTube search results can be challenging.

Of course, another tried-and-true way to make money on YouTube is by creating a successful channel that attracts a large number of subscribers and viewers. This path is a bit more conventional and well-tread, but it’s important to set realistic expectations.

Yes, there are certainly success stories out there of YouTubers who have built channels with millions of subscribers and are earning substantial income from it.

However, it’s worth noting that growing a channel to this size usually doesn’t happen overnight. It often takes months, sometimes even two to three years, of consistent uploading, engagement, and refining your content strategy to reach this level of success.

The revenue from this approach comes mainly from advertising revenue through YouTube’s Partner Program, which can be quite lucrative once you’ve reached a substantial number of regular viewers but it’s not a quick or easy road to $500 per day.

It takes dedication, creativity, and above all, patience. But for those who have a passion for their content and a commitment to their audience, the potential rewards can be well worth the effort.

Blogging

Blogging is another location independent business that has served me well. Currently, I manage four different blogs, three of which are monetized, and the fourth one is in the growth phase. After six years of consistent effort, I’m proud to say that I’m nearing the $500 a day.

However, just like with YouTube, blogging isn’t a shortcut to quick cash. It took me the same amount of time to reach this level of blogging success as it did to earn my engineering degree – six years.

This isn’t to discourage you but to emphasize that blogging, like any other endeavor, requires time, dedication, patience, and a lot of hard work.

The rewards of blogging go beyond just the potential for significant income. There’s a sense of satisfaction in sharing your thoughts, insights, and experiences with a wider audience.

And, with various ways to monetize your blog, from affiliate marketing to sponsored posts and ads, there are several paths to reach that coveted $500 a day goal.

The important thing to remember is that each of these methods for earning money requires time and effort to establish.

There’s no get-rich-quick scheme here, but with patience, dedication, and persistence, it’s possible to build an income stream that matches, or even exceeds, a traditional salary.

Amazon FBA

Most people see Amazon as an e-commerce store for buying products. However, much like its natural counterpart, Amazon is full of many things, including countless opportunities to make money. 

 One of the best ways to make money on Amazon is Amazon FBA, otherwise known as “Fulfillment by Amazon.” Under this program, Amazon handles packaging, customer service, and shipping while you only have to worry about sourcing the product. 

Spend time researching your target audience and the product you are interested in selling. Learn about its scope and selling statistics from the competitors, and notice the competition. Once you have all this information, learn how to source the product. 

Once you figure out how to source the product, you only have to advertise your product and let Amazon do the rest.

To reach a target of $500 a day, you would need a significant amount of moeny tied into inventory. Here’s a simple calculation to give you an idea of what it might take.

For example, let’s say your profit margin is 20%. This means that for every product you sell, 20% of the sales price is your profit.

So, let’s do the math. If you’re aiming to make a profit of $500 a day, which equates to $15,000 a month, you need to figure out the total revenue that corresponds to that profit at a 20% profit margin. The formula is:

Net Profit ÷ Profit Margin = Total Revenue

Using this formula, $15,000 (your monthly net profit) divided by 20% (your profit margin) equals $75,000.

So, in order to generate a profit of $15,000 per month (or $500 per day) with a 20% profit margin, you would need to have $75,000 worth of inventory each month. This calculation assumes that you sell all of your inventory each month and the profit margin remains consistent.

Of course, this is a simplified example. Other factors such as operating costs, taxes, unsold inventory, and market fluctuations could affect the final amount.

However, this example does provide a clear illustration of the kind of inventory investment you might need to consider to hit a daily profit target of $500.

You’ll love: $1 Million in Revenue on Amazon with Zero Employees

Becoming an Engineer

Here is another path to making $500 a day, I’m familiar with.

As I mentioned earlier, both my wife and I are engineers, and I’ve interacted with numerous colleagues in this field. A significant number of engineers I know earn six-figure salaries, easily surpassing the $500 a day.

Engineering is a vast field encompassing various disciplines such as civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, and chemical engineering, among others. Each of these specializations requires a distinct set of skills and knowledge.

The route to becoming an engineer typically involves earning a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, though many engineers also hold advanced degrees.

Entry-level engineering jobs can offer substantial salaries, and as you gain experience and specialize further, your earning potential can significantly increase. In some high-demand or specialized fields, engineers can earn well above the average.

While the financial rewards can be significant, becoming an engineer is not just about the potential for high earnings. It involves a commitment to learning, problem-solving, and contributing to technological and societal advancements.

To receive engineering diploma it takes at least four years of study, and often more if you consider the time spent on internships, postgraduate degrees, or obtaining professional engineering licensure.

Become a Doctor

I personally know many doctors, and I can confidently say that none of them earn a modest salary but it is not an easy path.

Becoming a doctor requires years of rigorous study and training, but it can result in a very high income. Whether they’re a general practitioner or a specialist in a specific field of medicine, doctors tend to have a high earning potential.

This is largely due to the significant amount of responsibility they carry, the complexity of their work, and the lengthy education and training period required to enter the profession.

Keep in mind, however, that becoming a doctor isn’t just about high earnings. It’s a profession that requires passion, dedication, and a genuine desire to help people.

It typically takes at least a decade of post-secondary education to become a practicing physician, including undergraduate studies, medical school, and residency training. The medical profession often involves long and irregular hours, with doctors frequently being on call.

Nevertheless, if you’re passionate about healthcare and helping others, and you’re willing to put in the years of study and training, being a doctor can be a rewarding career both personally and financially.

The journey to becoming a doctor is a long one, but for many, the potential to make a positive impact on people’s lives and the high earning potential make it worthwhile.

Final Words

While making $500 a day might seem like a lofty goal, it’s definitely achievable.

Whether it’s through YouTube, blogging, or becoming an engineer, there are several paths you can take.

The most important thing is to choose a path that aligns with your skills, interests, and passions.

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