B
y Joe Edwards, a Live News Reporter based in Newsweek's London Bureau. He covers weather, climate, and extreme weather events.

    McKinney, Texas, has taken the top spot in WalletHub's 2025 rankings of the best real estate markets in the US, followed by Cary, North Carolina, and Irvine, California. The report analyzed 300 cities across 17 metrics tied to housing-market health and economic environment.

    The top three cities owe their high rankings to a combination of factors. McKinney boasts a rapidly growing housing supply and job market, with nearly 38% of its homes built between 2010 and 2023. Cary benefits from low living costs, including home energy expenses that rank among the lowest in the nation. Irvine has some of the lowest mortgage delinquency rates and residents hold high median credit scores.

    The top 10 locations are: McKinney, Texas; Cary, North Carolina; Irvine, California; Durham, North Carolina; Richardson, Texas; Frisco, Texas; Gilbert, Arizona; Nashville, Tennessee; Denton, Texas; and Allen, Texas. WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo notes that Texas cities offer a unique combination of rapid job growth and strong housing development.

    Lupo emphasizes the importance of considering factors beyond current home prices when evaluating real estate markets. The report highlights the need to balance costs with economic advantages and look at long-term stability and potential for value increase.