In the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2025–2026, Cary and Apex have earned impressive spots among the top 10 best places to live in the United States—Cary at No. 5 and Apex at No. 7.These accolades highlight the exceptional quality of life, robust job markets, and overall desirability that these towns offer.
Key Factors Behind the Rankings
The U.S. News rankings evaluate cities based on several critical factors: quality of life, job market strength, affordability, and overall desirability.Cary and Apex have excelled in these areas, boasting strong employment opportunities, excellent schools, and vibrant community life.
Implications for the Housing Market
Such national recognition often leads to increased interest from potential homebuyers and investors, potentially driving up demand and home prices.For current residents, this can mean a rise in property values, while prospective buyers may face a more competitive market.
Navigating the Market with Barker Realty
At Barker Realty, we understand the dynamics of the Cary and Apex real estate markets.Our team is equipped to help you navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with these evolving markets. Whether you’re considering buying, selling, or investing, we’re here to provide expert guidance tailored to your needs.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
Cary and Apex’s top rankings are a testament to their appeal as places to live and invest.As these towns continue to gain national attention, staying informed and working with experienced real estate professionals like Barker Realty can help you make the most of the opportunities in the Raleigh metro housing market.
Is 2025 a good time to buy a house? See what factors affect the housing market in 2025 and what that means for buyers and sellers alike.
No matter how much experience you have in real estate, buying or selling a house is a decision that takes some forethought. If it’s something you’re considering, the experts at Barker Realty recommend this first step: take a look at the current housing market and determine whether now is a good time to buy or sell.
In a recent article, Business Insider said that some of the biggest forces currently influencing the housing market include mortgage rates, low housing supply, and home prices. How will these factors change in 2025? Read these housing market trends to help you make the best decision.
Mortgage Rate Predictions
In February 2025, the average mortgage rate was 6.51%, stated Business Insider. There is hope that mortgage rates will ease up as price growth stabilizes this year, but it may not be as drastic a change as buyers would like. Their prediction is that mortgage rates may end up in the low-to-mid 6% range by the end of 2025.
High mortgage rates impact both potential buyers and sellers, discouraging both groups. However, they can sometimes keep housing prices from rising as quickly. But because of the low housing inventory trends, home prices in the U.S. have continued to increase over the past few years.
Housing Supply Predictions
In June 2024, Zillow reported that the U.S. is 4.5 million homes short of a healthy housing supply. A low housing supply tends to increase homes and rent costs.
“For housing market conditions to improve, housing supply needs to increase,” reported Business Insider. “As mortgage rates decrease, more sellers should come onto the market and list their homes, increasing the number of for-sale homes available.”
The article also stated that Fannie Mae expects the new construction housing numbers to drop in 2025 and improve in 2026, but the Mortgage Banker Association (MBA) said the numbers will start to rise this year and continue into next.
Home Price Predictions
Currently, the average home value is just over $357,000, according to Zillow, which is 2.6% higher than last year. Home prices are expected to rise 3.5% year over year in 2025 but slow down to 1.7% in 2026, according to Fannie Mae. The MBA sees this year’s rate slowing to 1.3% and remaining there in 2026.
Barker Realty Can Help
Right now is not a particularly easy time for buying or selling a house. But that doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish your goals. Barker Realty can help you navigate housing market rates, timing, and any other areas where you have questions. Contact our team today to get started and make the most of your real estate investments.
Barker Realty, Inc. – serving Wake County since 1984.
It’s no secret that Wake County’s growth has exploded over the last 15 years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Raleigh alone grew by about one million residents between 2010 and 2020.
With that, Wake County has become an area ripe with opportunity for rental investment properties. When searching where to buy rental property, we suggest comparing factors like crime rate and safety, walkability, schools, low vacancy rates, public transportation, and signs of growth – along with financial considerations, of course.
Barker Realty has provided real estate expertise in Raleigh, Cary, and the surrounding areas for 40 years. Here’s where we think are the best places to buy rental property in Wake County today.
Top 5 Places to Buy Rental Property in Wake County:
Cary
Fuquay- Varina
Midtown, Raleigh
Garner
Cameron Park, Raleigh
Cary
USA TODAY Homefront recently named Cary the best city to rent in the county. It took first place in the overall study because of its affordability, low crime, good schools, high-paying job market, and access to recreation. It also ranked in the top five for “Best City for Renters with Pets” and “Best City for Single Renters.”
As a rental property investor, Cary is one of the more expensive areas in Wake County, but it shouldn’t stop you from considering this city. The long-term value could really pay off.
Fuquay-Varina
WRAL reported in November 2024 that Fuquay-Varina is one of the state’s fastest-growing municipalities, with the population more than doubling since 2010. With plans to grow the downtown and new elementary schools being built, property owners can expect more rental options.
Midtown, Raleigh
North Hills and Midtown have been a prime spot for real estate for many years. Endless restaurants, shops, events, as well as a variety of housing options, make the area an exciting place to live. The City of Raleigh continues to have big plans for Midtown, and a big focus for the project is walkability. You can bet there will be investment properties worth considering.
Garner
Garner has seen incredible growth that makes it an interesting option for investment property owners. World Population Review found that Garner’s population has increased 17.15% since the last census in 2024. It also states that almost 40% of Garner’s population rents instead of owning homes.
Garner will also include two stops in the upcoming Greater Triangle Commuter Rail, better connecting it to the rest of the Triangle.
Cameron Park, Raleigh
Cameron Park (also known as Forest Park) in Raleigh is one of the city’s most sought-after areas. It’s close to downtown and walkable, and is near many parks, events, and good schools. If you can snag an investment property in this area, you could reap the benefits for many years.
Other places to consider buying rental property in Raleigh include: Historic Oakwood, Mordecai, Five Points, and Glenwood South.
Barker Realty partners with our clients to bring mutual success through rental property investments. From marketing to managing, our team can help you make the most out of your investment wherever you decide to purchase in Wake County. Contact us today to learn more.
Cary, NC, located in the Raleigh, NC metro area, is one of the best cities for Renters in the country.
Cary, NC Tops the List of Rental Markets
In a 2024 study, USA TODAY Homefront ranked 315 U.S. cities to find the best city for renters, and the Town of Cary, NC came out on top, surpassing Raleigh at No. 11.
The study used 19 key metrics to determine the best cities for renters based on the best cost incentives and optimal quality of life benefits. Researchers compared cost of rent, renter incomes, rental inventory with number of bedrooms, prevalence of others renting, schools, daycares, restaurants, crime rates, recreation, walkability, pet friendliness, and more.
Cary was named No. 1 because of its affordability, high-paying job market, low crime, access to recreation, and good schools.
The town also won the “Best City for Renting Families” category. There are nearly seven childcare facilities per 1,000 children, and Research Triangle Park provides ample job opportunities. This makes Cary a popular spot among millennials to settle down with their families.
Cary was in the Top 5 for two other categories, as well: No. 2 for “Best City for Renters with Pets” and No. 4 for “Best City for Single Renters” – both thanks to a high walkability score.
Nine other North Carolina cities ranked in the top 190. For comparison, the lowest rank was Menifee, California with a score of 53.1 and a typical rent of $2,682.
Rank
City
Score
Typical Rent
1
Cary, NC
100
$1,719
11
Raleigh, NC
90.7
$1,684
37
Wilmington, NC
85.6
$1,732
69
Concord, NC
81.6
$1,783
76
Durham, NC
80.9
$1,676
103
Winston-Salem, NC
79.0
$1,459
107
Charlotte, NC
78.5
$1,787
121
Fayetteville, NC
77.6
$1,359
134
Greensboro, NC
76.7
$1,363
184
High Point, NC
73.8
$1,531
Whether you are looking for a place to rent, property management services, or someone to sell your commercial real estate, the team at Barker Realty can help. With over 40 years as a local, family-owned business in Raleigh, Cary, and Wake County, you can trust you are working with a real estate company that strives to provide personal attention and exemplary service. Contact us online or call 919-859-0044.
Cary, NC Rankings
Overall:
Rank
City
Typical Rent
Annual Renter Income
Percentage of Renters Rent-Burdened
Percentage of Rental Vacant
1
Cary, NC
$1,719
$73,872
42.3%
18.3%
Families:
Rank
City
Percentage of Renters that are Families
Percentage of Rentals (Two Bedroom or More)
Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents
School Score
Childcare per 1,000 Kids Under 5
1
Cary, NC
22.5%
68.1%
10.5
8
6.8
No. 4 Best City for Single Renters:
Rank
City
Percentage of Rentals (Studio or One Bedroom)
Percentage of Population Age 20-39
Walkability Score
Bars per 1,000 Residents
1
Cary, NC
22.5%
68.1%
8
6.8
Cary also ranked No. 2 for best city for renters with pets:
We find many people are investing in the real estate sector today, especially in thriving markets like the Cary-Durham region of North Carolina. It is a lucrative industry that can have high returns. Just like any other investment needing full attention by professionals who are dedicated to your best interests, real estate requires proper management. Therefore, property owners should always consider the services of rental property managers. These professionals help manage your building or home(s) and rent them out to reliable tenants through a thorough application process like Barker Realty provides.
Getting involved with tenants daily is not an easy task. It requires an experienced manager from a licensed property management company. Our property management services involve the following duties:
Collecting rents
Handling issues that affect tenants
Ensuring that the property is well-maintained
Making sure that the landlord’s property is structurally secure
Taking appropriate actions against tenants who fail to pay rent on time
Therefore, if you want to be relieved from these tasks in order to focus on growing your portfolio further, we recommend hiring a property manager company who possess the following traits:
1. Communication Skills
Property management requires excellent communication skills between tenants and property owners or the management staff. Tenants and property owners should be able to reach the manager for non-emergency and emergency issues all the same. Therefore, both written and verbal communication skills are required to maintain a professional demeanor and is beneficial in handling difficult situations
2. People-Oriented
Based on our decades of experience, Barker Realty has learned that people-oriented managers interact with tenants more efficiently. Any property management service provider needs to place quality and competent tenants into residences.
3. Trustworthy and Ethical
An excellent management company is transparent and honest. The property management profession requires trustworthiness, responsiveness, and full disclosure for the owners in how the tenants are held accountable and processes are being followed. At Barker Realty, this is what we stand for — to build long lasting relationships with our clients through personal attention and exemplary service.
4. Knowledgeable and Experienced
Property managers should be able to interpret financial reports quickly and be able to decipher between a reliable tenant compared to one who may not be the right fit. Additionally, all property managers should be knowledgeable about the latest real estate regulations and property ownership laws. It is recommended to take the appropriate time to perform due diligence and interviews with your prospective managers to also make sure they are a good fit for you and your investment portfolio.
5. Marketing Skills
At Barker Realty, we know that marketing of our owners’ properties is crucial to the success of the relationship. Your property managers should be competent at online marketing with the goal of showing up online when people are searching for a new place to rent. They should also have clear rental signs, a professional showing agent, and a diverse rental portfolio to reach a wide range of rental clients.
6. Organized
An organized manager pays keen attention to details and they DO sweat the small stuff to ensure your property is managed properly. Being able to enhance proper maintenance of your property throughout the year, keep paperwork readily available, and check in with tenants are tasks which help your property thrive.
If you own property or are looking to invest in property in the Cary area, consider the above in your search for a reputable local property management company like Barker Realty. It’s important to get a knowledgeable and success-oriented team on your side.
Some real estate investors, particularly new ones, see hiring property managers or a property management company as an unnecessary expense. But, they can actually be a huge benefit to your income.
Here are four important reasons to hire a property management company to oversee your rental property:
1. Set the Best Rent for Your Property
You could spend hours, days, or even weeks scrolling rental listings to try and find comparable properties and the rent they’re getting. But a local real estate management company will have a good handle on the local market and be able to tell you how much to charge to ensure that you not only get quality tenants and low turnover but also get the most income out of your property. Plus, property management companies have access to professional sources such as MLS (multiple listing service).
2. Market, Advertise and Show Your Property
Managing your property alone you can spend hours every week crafting ads, fielding phone calls, text messages and emails about the property, and showing the home to prospective tenants. Unless the rental property is your full-time job, this takes time away from your family, work, and downtime. Property managers do this every day. They have the experience and knowledge to quickly create ads, and it is their full-time job to answer prospective tenant questions and show the home. This frees up your time, and also provides more flexibility to the prospective tenant, as they don’t have to work around your schedule.
3. Manage Vendor Relationships
Plumbers, electricians, appliance repair technicians – at some point, they’re all going to need to come to your rental property to repair or replace something, whether it’s through tenant damage or simple wear and tear. As a real estate investor, you’ll always get the same rate that any other private party would get. A property manager, however, may get a discount because they manage so many properties and can give an extensive amount of work to the vendor. You’ll save money and get high-quality repairs through vetted vendors.
4. Ensure Compliance with Housing Regulations and Property Laws
As a real estate investor, you likely did your research before you started. But the regulations and laws can be exhausting, confusing, constantly changing and hard to read. A property management company will be thoroughly familiar with all the regulations and laws, and they will ensure that you comply with them all.
Give Barker Realty a call today to see how we can help!
