CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept. 3 — The story of the American new-home market in 2026 is increasingly a Southern one, with smaller regional hubs carrying the weight of new inventory even as high financing costs and slow buyer demand keep pressure on builders nationwide. Realtor.com published updated rankings on Monday identifying the top 10 U.S. metro markets for new-home construction this year, and the list reads like a map of the Carolinas.
Charleston and Greenville took the top two spots, with new construction accounting for roughly one-quarter and one-third of respective for-sale listings. Eight of the ten metros sit in the South, and eight are in North or South Carolina alone.
A tale of two Carolinas
For those involved, the rankings underscore what Realtor.com calls the “staying power” of these high-flyers — half of the 2026 top 10 also appeared on the 2025 list. The report describes these metros as “young, vibrant and growing,” noting that nearly all possess a major research university or flagship school woven directly into the local economy and identity.
Only two of the top 10 — Charlotte, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn. — rank among the 50 largest U.S. cities, a sign that smaller hubs are adding needed inventory where land is cheaper, regulations are looser, and builders can work year-round. In Charleston, new builds were priced approximately 12% lower than existing homes.
Greenville’s new construction ran about 1.6% less than the existing stock. Boise, Idaho, ranked third, where new builds were roughly 4.5% less pricey than existing homes and accounted for more than half of all listings; its climate score of 6.1% relative to existing homes held it back from a higher ranking due to wildfire risks from new construction on the city’s western side abutting wilderness areas.
Premiums and patience
Charlotte and Nashville rounded out the top five, with new homes typically about 5% more expensive than existing homes. Chattanooga, Tenn., and Winston-Salem, N.C., placed sixth and seventh, each carrying new-home premiums of 10%. Madison, Wis., ranked eighth with a 12.5% premium.
Durham, N.C., and Columbia, S.C., completed the list, with new homes more expensive in Durham but less expensive in Columbia. New construction exceeded 25% of total listings in every top 10 market and topped one-third of listings in four of them.
Across the top 10, new homes averaged 60 days on the market — a median of 62.5 days — compared to a median of 29 days in July for existing-home sales, per the National Association of Realtors. Columbia had the shortest time on market at 45 days and the most affordable new-home median price at $298,004, though it carried a higher climate risk score of 7.1% due to wildfire risks. Madison had the longest time on market at 70 days.
