Secondary markets can offer real estate investors lower acquisition costs and attractive rental demand, but performance varies widely by neighborhood and property type.
In July 2026, the typical U.S. asking rent reached $1,962, while single-family rents grew faster than multifamily rents. Based on Zillow’s latest data, these 10 secondary markets combined below-national asking rents with positive annual rent growth. They are listed by rent growth—not projected investment returns. View Zillow’s July 2026 Rent Report.
Rent growth alone does not determine whether a market—or an individual property—will perform. Before investing, evaluate:
Investors should also analyze the specific neighborhood and property rather than rely entirely on metro-level statistics. A growing market can still contain submarkets with weak demand, excessive inventory, or operating costs that limit cash flow.
CoreVest offers business-purpose financing for residential real estate investors across a range of rental, acquisition, renovation, and construction strategies. Contact our team to discuss financing for your next property or portfolio.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, tax, legal, or lending advice. Market data changes over time, and the markets identified are not ranked by projected returns or presented as investment recommendations. Investors should conduct independent due diligence. All loans are subject to underwriting, credit approval, eligibility requirements, program availability, and applicable terms and conditions.
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