U.S. real estate reports highlight investment leaders and rising HOA costs

A new study by AD Mortgage identifies top U.S. states for real estate investment based on three distinct investor profiles: Growth, Income, and Fundamental. South Carolina leads the nation for growth-oriented conditions, driven by population growth and home price appreciation. Idaho ranks first for income-oriented conditions due to rent growth and low ownership costs, while North Dakota takes the top spot for market fundamentals.

Separately, a Realtor.com analysis reveals that Florida contains seven of the ten U.S. metropolitan areas where homeowners association (HOA) fees represent the largest portion of a typical mortgage payment. Miami recorded the highest HOA burden in the country, with median fees accounting for 26.9% of projected monthly mortgage costs. Other high-burden Florida metros include Panama City and Naples. The report notes that the prevalence of HOA fees in listed homes has increased since 2019, partly due to rising insurance costs and new inspection requirements.