The Best Cities to Buy Land in 2026

Investors are paying closer attention to land in 2026 - not just as a long-term hold, but as a strategic play tied to population growth, shifting development patterns, and new economic engines that are shaping the best places to buy land for long-term value.

The Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2026 report from the Urban Land Institute and PwC reinforces that land is becoming more valuable in markets where demand is expanding faster than the available supply of buildable sites. Even though higher costs and cautious capital have slowed construction, there is still momentum in key growth regions. These are areas seeing strong in-migration and expanding logistics activity, along with rising interest in power-ready sites suited for data centers, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging industries.

Recent research indicates that growth is moving outward. As cities run low on infill opportunities and development becomes more expensive, builders and businesses are looking to surrounding areas where land is still attainable and zoning offers more flexibility. 

At the same time, infrastructure improvements, port activity, and fast-growing employment hubs are creating new corridors where land demand is heating up well before vertical development even begins. That dynamic is giving land buyers a chance to enter markets early, before pricing reflects the next wave of construction.

With that in mind, this guide highlights the best cities to invest in land in 2026, grounded in the trends identified in Emerging Trends 2026 and supported by Crexi Intelligence. The cities featured are in markets where population growth, economic expansion, and development pressure point to where future value could take shape.

Methodology: How We Picked Our Land List

We identified the top 10 land markets for 2026 by using Crexi’s real-time lead data, evaluating both year-over-year growth rates and absolute activity levels across metros. 

Markets were selected based on accelerating investor interest, lead volume, and fundamentals such as tightening vacancy, positive absorption, and pricing relative to replacement cost.

10 Top Cities for Land Investing in 2026

As the market shifts toward selective, long-horizon plays, more investors are looking at land to secure future positioning rather than chase short-term swings. For anyone evaluating where to buy land for long-term investment in 2026, these markets stand out as locations with enough traction today to support stronger returns tomorrow.

1. Orlando, FL

Orlando keeps appearing on lists of the best places to buy land in the US for long-term investment, largely because its fundamentals are still trending in the right direction.Between 2016 and 2022, the Orlando metro outpaced every other large U.S. region in combined job, population, and GDP growth, according to the Orlando Economic Partnership. 

That steady job engine has made developable land more competitive, particularly in fast-growing suburbs and near key employment districts. Recent CRE trends also point to ongoing Sun Belt in-migration and logistics growth, both of which align with what investors are seeing in Orlando.

For land buyers, that translates into opportunities around future residential communities, distribution hubs near Orlando International Airport, and mixed-use nodes in growth corridors like Lake Nona. The city’s emphasis on master-planned growth and infrastructure investment gives developers a clearer read on where utilities, transportation upgrades, and employment centers are headed next, which is critical when you’re making long-range land investment opportunities.

Crexi Intelligence Orlando Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $1.3 million
• Price/Acre: $526,600
• Median acreage/listing: 3
• Total listings: 152
• Days on market: 347

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $577,700
• Sold price/Acre: $1.3 million 
• Total acres sold: 1,356 
• Total sales volume: $673 million 
• Days on market: 400 

2. Raleigh, NC

Raleigh and the broader Triangle region continue to punch above their weight as a tech and life science hub, which is why they often land on shortlists of best U.S. cities to invest in land. Research Triangle Park hosts more than 385 companies and over 55,000 workers in industries like biotech, software, and advanced manufacturing, creating steady demand for offices, labs, and supporting housing. That mix of high-wage employment and university talent from NC State, Duke, and UNC continues to influence land values, especially in growth corridors between Raleigh, Durham, and Cary.

For most buyers, Raleigh is a long-game market, where land values build gradually alongside job and population growth. Greenfield sites near future infrastructure, suburban infill around existing job nodes, and parcels suited for townhome or build-to-rent projects all align with the region’s growth pattern. The Carolinas continue to benefit from Southeast in-migration and company relocations, which reinforces Raleigh’s appeal for long-term land investment.

Crexi Intelligence Raleigh Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $1.2 million
• Price/Acre: $381,200
• Median acreage/listing: 2
• Total listings: 59
• Days on market: 174

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $1.1 million
• Sold price/Acre: $870,800 
• Total acres sold: 77 
• Total sales volume: $66.6 million  
• Days on market: 634

3. Atlanta, GA

Atlanta remains one of the Southeast’s anchor markets for logistics, corporate jobs, and population growth, three forces that continue to support strong land investment opportunities. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world’s busiest passenger and cargo hubs, reinforces the region’s role as a major logistics center for the Eastern U.S.

Industrial users, film production companies, and corporate headquarters activity have all helped push development pressure into surrounding counties, where raw land for housing and warehouse projects is still more attainable than in the urban core.

Looking ahead to 2026, the real draw is how Atlanta’s growth corridors continue pushing demand outward, creating room for new housing and industrial development, a key consideration for investors evaluating where to buy land in the region. Submarkets along I-75, I-85, and I-20 are seeing new subdivisions, build-to-rent communities, and large-format industrial projects. Pair that with regional population growth and a relatively business-friendly environment, and you get a market where well-located parcels can ride multiple demand waves over a long hold period - a strong fit for long-term land investment.

Crexi Intelligence Atlanta Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $870,000
• Price/Acre: $250,000
• Median acreage/listing: 1
• Total listings: 199
• Days on market: 246

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $150,000
• Sold price/Acre: $460,400 
• Total acres sold: 215 
• Total sales volume: $67.2 million 
• Days on market: 247

4. Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga sits in a strategic spot between Atlanta and Nashville, and its industrial base has expanded meaningfully over the past decade, strengthening its profile for long-term land investing. The Volkswagen assembly plant at Enterprise South has anchored a growing auto and EV supply chain, with new battery and component manufacturing expanding land demand near major logistics corridors.That industrial backbone, combined with the city’s outdoor and tourism appeal, has supported demand for both workforce housing and light industrial space.

From a land-investment standpoint, Chattanooga offers a different profile than larger U.S. metros and stands out as one of the more attainable places to buy land with long-run upside. Parcels near logistics corridors and industrial parks are positioned to benefit from supplier expansions, while residential land on the urban fringe is attracting builders looking for more affordable land development opportunities than in larger Tennessee markets. For investors evaluating where to buy land in a smaller but steadily maturing metro, Chattanooga offers a way to capture industrial and population-driven upside without big-city land pricing.

Crexi Intelligence Chattanooga Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $762,500
• Price/Acre: $368,900
• Median acreage/listing: 2
• Total listings: 149
• Days on market: 231

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $300,000
• Sold price/Acre: $301,900 
• Total acres sold: 277 
• Total sales volume: $52.8 million 
• Days on market: 403 

5. Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas has moved beyond its gaming-only narrative and is leaning into a broader economic base, which is relevant for anyone evaluating where to buy land for long-term investment in 2026. 

The region continues to add residents as its economy widens beyond gaming, with job growth in hospitality, construction, logistics, and a fast-growing sports and entertainment sector helping drive steady demand for developable land. The arrival of the NFL Raiders and the city’s Formula 1 racing events have helped drive new investment and tourism, which in turn has supported steady demand for more housing and commercial development and a focal point for land-investing strategies.

Land on the metro’s edges remains a key part of the growth equation. Master-planned communities, industrial parks serving the I-15 corridor, and infill redevelopment sites all shape where land development opportunities will concentrate as Las Vegas continues to densify. Water constraints and land-use planning mean due diligence is non-negotiable, but they also help channel growth into defined areas - useful for buyers trying to anticipate where future rooftops and job centers will actually land.

Crexi Intelligence Las Vegas Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $2 million
• Price/Acre: $985,200
• Median acreage/listing: 2
• Total listings: 239
• Days on market: 281

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $646,700
• Sold price/Acre: $1.4 million 
• Total acres sold: 484 
• Total sales volume: $3.7 billion 
• Days on market: 556 

6. Dallas, TX

Dallas–Fort Worth stands out as one of the best cities to buy land for development, and Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2026 backs that up by ranking DFW as its top “Market to Watch.” The metro continues to add residents and employers, including relocations from higher-cost states, which fuels ongoing demand for industrial and residential land. With land still comparatively attainable in many suburban and exurban submarkets, builders and developers are actively assembling sites for master-planned communities, business parks, and last-mile logistics projects.

DFW’s position at a national crossroads, supported by interstate, rail, and air connectivity, continues to shape how and where land gets absorbed for future development. Industrial users looking for central distribution points see the region as a natural fit, which keeps steady pressure on developable land near key corridors. For those deciding on the best U.S. cities for land investment, Dallas offers a diversified economy and supportive planning initiatives that support long-term development.

Crexi Intelligence Dallas Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $1 million 
• Price/Acre: $288,800 
• Median acreage/listing: 3
• Total listings: 294
• Days on market: 473

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $419,200
• Sold price/Acre: $2.7 million 
• Total acres sold: 559 
• Total sales volume: $878.4 million 
• Days on market: 784

7. Nashville, TN

Nashville’s land market is shaped by strong job growth and high-profile corporate investments. Oracle’s planned East Bank campus alone represents roughly 8,500 jobs and a $1.2 billion investment, along with about $175 million in public infrastructure like a pedestrian bridge, park space, and utilities upgrades. That kind of long-term commitment tends to ripple into demand for housing, services, and future development sites in surrounding neighborhoods. 

For land buyers, the opportunity extends well beyond the downtown riverfront. Suburban counties continue to see strong in-migration, and builders are tracking school districts, commute patterns, and new road projects as they scout future subdivision sites. Sites that can support mixed-use, build-to-rent, or low-rise residential projects near employment centers remain especially attractive land development opportunities. With strong lead activity on Crexi (averaging 26 leads per listing), Nashville remains one of the top markets for land development opportunities heading into the next cycle.

Crexi Intelligence Nashville Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $2 million 
• Price/Acre: $475,200
• Median acreage/listing: 2
• Total listings: 137
• Days on market: 229

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $515,000
• Sold price/Acre: $4.5 million
• Total acres sold: 4,668 
• Total sales volume: $946.9 million 
• Days on market: 367

8. Concord, NC

Concord, just northeast of Charlotte, often flies under the radar compared with larger Sun Belt metros, but its recent growth has been significant. As part of the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia metro, the city has benefited from regional population gains and job growth, supported by finance, logistics, and advanced manufacturing employers. The presence of Charlotte Motor Speedway and nearby industrial parks adds another layer of activity, drawing visitors and supporting service-sector jobs.

For those priced out of central Charlotte, Concord offers a more attainable land entry point while still benefiting from the region’s economic momentum. There is also ongoing interest in land sites that can support light industrial, flex, or distribution projects tied to the region’s highway network. For buyers considering where to buy land in North Carolina, Concord provides a mix of affordability and growth exposure, powered by suburban, owner-occupier-driven demand.

Crexi Intelligence Concord Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $925,000
• Price/Acre: $228,600
• Median acreage/listing: 4
• Total listings: 49
• Days on market: 339

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $367,000
• Sold price/Acre: $43,100 
• Total acres sold: 172 
• Total sales volume: $49 million 
• Days on market: 960

9. Houston, TX

Houston continues to rank as a heavyweight among U.S. real estate markets, reflecting confidence in its long-term role as an energy, port, and manufacturing hub - key drivers of land demand. The Port of Houston remains one of the busiest in the country, and ongoing petrochemical and logistics investment helps support demand for industrial land along key corridors. Steady population growth keeps residential developers focused on new master-planned communities across the metro, increasing competition for well-located land.

For land investors, Houston offers both scale and variety, making it one of the most versatile places to buy land in a major U.S. market. Tracts near port-adjacent industrial zones and emerging manufacturing clusters appeal to users who need large footprints, while suburban land can be positioned for single-family, build-to-rent, or mixed-use projects. Floodplain and infrastructure considerations require careful underwriting, but they also help determine which areas are most likely to see sustained development. Ultimately, those factors make Houston one of the best places to buy land for real estate investment in the coming years.

Crexi Intelligence Houston Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $989,600
• Price/Acre: $489,000
• Median acreage/listing: 3 
• Total listings: 976 
• Days on market: 280

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $366,500
• Sold price/Acre: $1.4 million 
• Total acres sold: 1,241 
• Total sales volume: $3.2 billion 
• Days on market: 440 

10. New York City, NYC

New York City and its neighboring New Jersey markets are the outliers on this list: land is scarce, expensive, and still heavily pursued by investors looking for opportunities in high-density environments. The Port of New York and New Jersey remains the nation’s second-busiest container gateway, moving about 6.0 million TEUs through August 2025, a 4.1% year-over-year increase, reinforcing the region’s role as a critical logistics hub for both imports and exports. Brooklyn and Manhattan are both named among the Markets to Watch in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2026 report, thanks to continued investor focus on dense, infrastructure-rich locations where land is at a premium.

In New York City, most opportunities come from reworking existing space rather than finding undeveloped land, which is extremely limited. Because open parcels are limited, investors often turn to air rights and assemblages to add square footage or unlock new development potential. Transferable development rights are common in areas like Midtown and parts of Brooklyn where zoning allows additional height. Older industrial and commercial buildings are also drawing attention for conversion or modernization as demand grows for logistics, housing, and mixed-use space, creating alternative paths for land-adjacent investment.

Crexi Intelligence New York City Land Trends

For Sale (active)

• Asking sale price (median): $1.4 million
• Price/Acre: $600,000
• Median acreage/listing: 0 
• Total listings: 745
• Days on market: 166

Sales Comps (past 12 months)

• Median sales price: $1.2 million
• Sold price/Acre: $5.8 million  
• Total acres sold: 40 
• Total sales volume: $750.3 million 
• Days on market: 319

Final Thoughts

Heading into 2026, one thing is clear: demand for well-located land isn’t slowing down. The cities in this report are benefiting from real growth - more residents, new business investment, and ongoing development activity - which creates practical opportunities for buyers thinking long term. With careful research and a clear view of how each market is evolving, land can offer a strong path to future value. And for anyone evaluating the best cities to invest in land in 2026, these markets show where long-term potential is already taking shape.

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