Quote · BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast
Where We'd Invest in Real Estate Right Now (12 Markets)
Where this was said
House Hacking Pick #2: Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (Dave Meyer)
At 41:10 · chapter starts 40:50
Dave Meyer gets personal with his house hacking pick. Raleigh-Durham is the market he'd move to if he were starting his real estate investing career from scratch — and the case is hard to argue with. The region's job market is among the strongest in the country, anchored by the Research Triangle's concentration of tech, biotech, and university institutions. [1] — Dave Meyer "Raleigh-Durham combines one of the country's strongest job markets with home prices still accessible enough to house hack — duplexes under …" 40:50 Despite all that demand, prices haven't yet hit the levels that make entry impossible: Meyer found duplexes still available under $400,000. Add in favorable weather, vibrant college-town energy from Duke and NC State, and a growing young-professional demographic that produces steady rental demand, and Raleigh-Durham checks nearly every box for a first-time house hacker looking to get into a genuinely appreciating market without breaking the bank.
Raleigh-Durham combines one of the country's strongest job markets with home prices still accessible enough to house hack — duplexes under $400,000 are findable. For young investors who want career opportunity alongside real estate upside, Dave calls this the closest thing to a no-brainer market in 2026.
Riverside, CA is the first California market to crack this show's best-markets list. With a $537,000 median price and a duplex unit renting for ~$1,500, house hackers pay $1,725/month out of pocket — about $1,000 less than renting in the same market. In an expensive state where buyers feel stuck, this is the math that unlocks ownership.
