The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) just named Jacksonville, Florida one of its “Top 10 Homebuying Hot Spots for 2026,” spotlighting the First Coast as a key market for buyers heading into next year.
According to the association’s new report — Housing Hot Spots for 2026: The Markets Poised for New Buyer Opportunities — Jacksonville stands out because of improving affordability, rising income levels, and a growing inventory of homes that match what local buyers can afford.
Some of the factors that helped boost Jacksonville into the top-10 list:
- More than 39,700 additional households could qualify for a median-priced home if mortgage rates ease to around 6%.
- The share of millennial households in Jacksonville is about 34.2%, signaling a strong base of younger buyers.
- Local household incomes rose roughly 6.5% year over year, improving buyer purchasing power.
- Combined with modest job growth (0.7%) and net domestic migration of 1.1%, the data suggest that more people are choosing to move — or stay — in Jacksonville.
NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun, noted that lower mortgage rates and growing inventory are expected to draw buyers back into the market in 2026. For Jacksonville, that could mean a renewed surge in homebuying activity.
To read the full NAR press release, click here: National Association of REALTORS® Unveils Top 10 Homebuying Hot Spots for 2026