Remember when buying a house meant splashing out on a showing, writing an offer in the driveway, and praying the seller likes your handwriting?
Thankfully, 2025 is nothing like that. The frenzy is over, math finally matters again, and investors can actually think before making an offer on a property.
Higher rates have slowed the frenzy, giving investors something they haven’t done in a long time: leverage. And when the market cools even further, new construction becomes an obvious, highly predictable path to getting a great deal. Investors are now looking at reasonably priced entry points in high-growth metros, which is not always the case.
Now let’s walk through three markets where the math actually works, and why each is becoming a quiet favorite for investors who want Cash flow Now And Appreciation Later on.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is ongoing A profitable place for real estate investors year after year. The city added nearly 24,000 residents in the most recent annual census, including Fastest Growing Cities in America. In the market, more people equal More domestic, which leads to a high Rent demand. At the same time, median home prices hover around the low $300ks and It is expected to inch upwardsnot Walt.
The rent data suggests an opportunity, as the average rent was close to $1,825/month for Single family home By September Newly constructed homes can help investors lock in a low level of maintenance and repair risk.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa used to feel like a Bolivar theme park because of its beaches, events, vacation getaways and lack of state income tax. In 2025, things look different. With more inventory on the market and a slower pace of sales, buyers finally have options once again. This availability is creating real opportunities to lock in competitive pricing, especially with new construction.
Additionally, Basic principles of basic rent Stay strong. As of October, the average rent in the metro is around $2,200/month, vacancy is ~4.2%, and rental yield is 6.2%.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s fundamentals are incredibly strong: Population and job growth, along with in-migration from other states, continue to drive demand for long-term housing. But unlike the high-pressure market of the past few years, today’s environment gives investors breathing room. Inventory has improved, pricing has stabilized, and days on market have returned to healthy levels. This Creating a window for investors to enter quality neighborhoods on competitive terms. Rents remain steady in metros, and the combination of solid demand with higher purchase prices is improving overall productivity.
How to Use Lennar’s Investors Marketplace The Right Way
The beauty of Lennar’s investor marketplace is that it eliminates all the noise surrounding finding an ideal investment property. You won’t have to scroll through awkward MLS photos, guess rental comps, or wonder why someone took a picture of a ceiling fan at a 90-degree angle.
Instead, you open Marketplace, filter for San Antonio, Tampa, or Atlanta, and instantly see new construction, ready-to-rent homes with the data investors actually need, including expected rents, neighborhood stats, HOA details, estimated costs, and even school ratings. It’s like getting the “investor version” of Zillow, but without the emotional valuations or homes that require Sage to smoke.
From there, you can drop the numbers right in Big Pockets Calculatorknowing that you are writing with original comps and brand new construction that won’t surprise you with a 12,000 AC replacement in three months.
Once a home passes your numbers test, the marketplace makes the rest super easy. You can line financing, property management, insurance, and closing services directly through the platform, making it a one-stop shop. designed to achieve You are browsing Cash flow Without waking up 18 different vendors.
In Tampa, that means you can confidently model higher insurance costs while still hitting those strong $2,200 fares. In San Antonio, you get low admission prices and solid rent-to-value ratios that actually pencil out. And in Atlanta, you can shop for value-priced suburbs that are already right, while still partaking in steady demand.
The whole experience removes aversion from friction investors And leaves You get clean deals, exact numbers, and fewer surprises after closing.
Choose your lane
- Want Strong Cash Flow + Low Entry Cost? San Antonio
- Want growth + lifestyle appeal + strong rent? Tampa
- Want large metro scale + value entry + long-term stability? Atlanta
Use Lennar’s rich data Inventory
The platform offers new construction homes, builder warranties, and ready-to-rent assumptions. Use them as anchors. Cross check With local comps.
Model conservative returns
Don’t chase 10%+ yield unless you do value-added work. Accept a 5%–7% yield with upside through appreciation and less surprise.
Risks of stress testing
High interest rates, rising insurance (especially in Tampa and all of Florida), tenant businesses, and more CAPEX SPIKES: New construction helps mitigate many of them.
Final thoughts
San Antonio, Tampa, and Atlanta are not fireworks markets yet. Ratherthey are power plants. They are affordable (in the context of large metros), growth-oriented and rent-friendly. If you buy new (via the Lennar Investor Market) and write wisely, you can build a portfolio that works.
Pick one of these three markets this week, run a contract through the numbers, and you’ll find A contract Which actually pencils out. Not the hype. Not a fantasy. Only smart data and solid positioning in markets where people move and rent.