Real Estate Investing in High Point, NC: 2026 Market Guide

Real estate investing in High Point, NC combines low prices with fast-moving sales. The typical High Point home is worth about $248,000, and houses rent for around $1,714 a month.^1,2 Homes go under contract in about 19 days, one of the quickest paces in the state, though house rents have dipped over the past year.

High Point is North Carolina's ninth-largest city, with about 121,000 residents in 2025, up 5.7% since 2020.³ It was the state's second-fastest-growing city of more than 100,000 people in the most recent year.⁴ Known worldwide for the High Point Market furniture show, it has a large stock of older single-family homes, which makes single-family rental homes a natural fit.

Why investors are watching High Point in 2026

• Fast sales at low prices. The typical home costs about $248,000 and goes under contract in about 19 days.¹
• Strong rent relative to price. At about 8.3% a year, the gross rent-to-price ratio is well above North Carolina's big-city markets.^1,2
• A growing university. High Point University enrolled a record 6,561 students in fall 2026, with graduate enrollment up 23% since 2023.⁶
• New investment downtown. The city reported $97 million in new capital investment and 422 new jobs in 2025, and a former furniture showroom is becoming 143 apartments.^5,9

High Point housing and rental market in 2026

High Point's home prices are steady. Zillow's typical home value of about $248,000 is roughly flat from a year ago, and homes go under contract in around 19 days.¹ That's a quick pace, so well-priced homes draw competition.

Rents have cooled. The average house rents for about $1,714 a month, down about $136 from a year ago, with about 148 houses listed for rent and an average of about 51 days on the market.² Across all rentals, including apartments, the average is about $1,400, down about $200.²

• Typical home value: ~$248,000, about flat year over year.¹
• House rent: ~$1,714 a month, down ~$136 year over year.²
• All rentals: ~$1,400 a month, down ~$200 year over year.²
• Days to pending: ~19 days.¹
• Gross rent-to-price: ~8.3% a year. Annual house rent ($1,714 × 12) ÷ typical home value ($247,717), before taxes, insurance, repairs and vacancy.

Gross rent-to-price is only a first screen. Before you invest in rental property, run the net numbers too, such as cap rate and cash-on-cash return, which account for taxes, insurance, repairs and vacancy.

Jobs, growth and population: what's driving demand

Furniture still defines High Point. The twice-yearly High Point Market draws about 75,000 visitors and, by its own estimate, supports about 42,000 jobs.⁷ The industry is under pressure, though: new tariffs on imported furniture took effect in late 2025, and some local plants have closed.^10,11

Other drivers are growing. High Point University has added graduate, dental and other professional programs and is building a $100 million library.⁶ The city reported $97 million in new capital investment and 422 new full-time jobs in 2025.⁵ About 30 miles away, Toyota's $13.9 billion battery plant in Liberty started production in 2025 with about 2,500 workers and plans for up to 5,100.⁸

High Point neighborhoods and areas to know

Downtown and the Catalyst District

The area around Truist Point ballpark, where the city is encouraging new hotels, offices and apartments.¹⁴ The former Showplace West building is being converted into 143 apartments.⁹

Near High Point University

Neighborhoods around HPU and Montlieu Avenue. Most undergraduates live on campus, so tenants are more often graduate and professional students and staff.⁶

Washington Street and east High Point

A historic district east of downtown with lower prices, getting new attention through local investment in its storefronts.^15,16 Older homes often need work.

North High Point and the Wendover corridor

Newer subdivisions and shopping toward Greensboro, popular with families and commuters. Prices are higher than in the city's core.

Comparing North Carolina markets? See our 2026 market guides to Apex, Cary, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem, or browse all of our real estate market guides by city.

Risks to weigh before investing in High Point

• Falling rents. House rents are down about $136 over the past year.² Underwrite with today's rents and a realistic vacancy allowance, and understand real estate market cycles.
• Furniture industry and tariffs. Tariffs on imported furniture and recent plant closures could weigh on local jobs.^10,11
• Property tax revaluation. Guilford County's 2026 reappraisal raised the median home value about 65%, and the new values hit tax bills in 2027.¹² Budget for a higher tax bill.
• Older homes and insurance. Much of High Point's housing is older and may need updates, and North Carolina homeowners insurance base rates rose 7.5% in 2025 and again in 2026.¹³ Our guide to real estate market analysis walks through what else to check.

3 ways to invest in High Point rental property, including fractional real estate investing

There are three common ways to invest in rental properties in a market like High Point. They differ mainly in how much money you need up front and how much work you take on.

Buy a rental home yourself

Investment property loans typically require 20% to 25% down. On a $248,000 home, that's roughly $50,000 to $62,000 before closing costs and repairs. You also find tenants and handle maintenance, or pay a property manager. Our guide to choosing the right rental property covers what to check before you buy.

Buy a REIT or real estate fund

A REIT lets you invest with less money, but you own a slice of a large national portfolio rather than specific High Point homes. See more ways to invest in real estate without buying property.

Invest in fractional real estate online

Fractional real estate lets you buy shares of individual rental homes instead of the whole property. With a real estate investment platform like Tirios, you can invest in real estate online starting at $100 per share, through the website or the Tirios app. Our guide to investing in rental property online explains how it works. The team handles tenants and maintenance, and rent is paid out as quarterly dividends, which makes it a hands-off way to earn passive income from real estate.