Why Inland College Towns Are Real Estate’s Hottest Overlooked Sector

You’re about to get schooled on where to invest—literally. Turns out one of the best places to park your real estate investment dollars is near the halls of higher education. But not in just any college town, however; the best investments are in inland towns. Why so specific? That’s according to the data experts at Redfin, who have crunched the numbers and seen some startling trends. Yingqi Xu, Redfin’s senior economist, said in the Redfin press release: “Many of the college towns with home prices rising the fastest are also among the most affordable places to buy a home right now. That combination is attracting buyers who have been priced out of larger metros, while universities continue to provide a reliable foundation of demand. Meanwhile, many of the most expensive college towns are experiencing price declines as high mortgage rates and elevated home prices make buyers there more cautious.” College towns bucking national trends include Morgantown, West Virginia, home of West Virginia University; Syracuse, New York, where you’ll find Syracuse University; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the University of Alabama is, all of which are anchored by large universities and have enjoyed ...