Best Places to Wholesale Real Estate

Last updated: August 6, 2025

Real estate wholesaling is a dynamic and lucrative investment strategy that involves securing properties at below-market prices and assigning the contracts to buyers for a profit, without ever taking ownership. This approach requires minimal upfront capital, making it an attractive entry point for new investors, while its fast-paced nature appeals to seasoned professionals looking to maximize returns. However, the success of wholesaling heavily depends on choosing the right market. Factors like population growth, economic stability, housing demand, and inventory availability play critical roles in determining where wholesalers can thrive. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the best places to wholesale real estate in 2025, highlight key strategies for success, and discuss how platforms like OfferMarket can empower wholesalers and investors through its innovative marketplace and private lending division.

What is Real Estate Wholesaling?

Wholesaling involves identifying motivated sellers, securing properties under contract at a discount, and assigning those contracts to cash buyers for a fee. These sellers are often in distress facing foreclosure, tax delinquency, or personal circumstances like divorce or inheritance while buyers are typically investors seeking fix-and-flip or rental opportunities. Wholesaling requires minimal upfront capital, as wholesalers don’t purchase properties themselves, but it demands strong negotiation skills, market knowledge, and a robust network.

The key to success lies in choosing markets with affordable housing, high rental demand, distressed inventory, landlord-friendly laws, and strong economic growth. These factors ensure a steady supply of deals and a reliable pool of buyers. Platforms like OfferMarket streamline the process by connecting wholesalers with verified investors and providing financing solutions, making it easier to source, list, and close deals.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wholesaling Market

Before exploring specific markets, it’s essential to understand the criteria that make a location ideal for wholesaling:

1. Affordability and Median Home Prices: Markets with moderate home prices offer more room for wholesalers to secure properties below market value and still provide attractive margins for buyers.
2. Population Growth and Demand: Areas with increasing populations and job opportunities attract investors looking for rental properties or fix-and-flip projects, ensuring a steady demand for wholesale deals.
3. Inventory of Distressed Properties: Markets with a high number of distressed, foreclosed, or pre-foreclosure properties provide wholesalers with opportunities to find below-market deals.
4. Investor Activity: Locations with active real estate investor communities, including fix-and-flippers and rental property investors, create a strong buyer pool for wholesalers.
5. Economic Stability and Job Growth: Markets with robust economies and job opportunities tend to have higher housing demand, making them attractive for wholesaling.
6. Vacancy Rates: Moderate vacancy rates indicate a balance between supply and demand, allowing wholesalers to move deals quickly without oversaturating the market.

With these factors in mind, let’s explore the top markets for wholesaling real estate in 2025, based on current trends and data.

Top 12 Markets for Wholesaling Real Estate in 2025

1. Phoenix, Arizona

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$427,379
• Key Factors: Rapid population growth (projected 7.1 million in Arizona by 2025), low vacancy rate (4.6%), and a diverse economy driven by tech, healthcare, and manufacturing.
• Distressed Inventory: Phoenix has a steady supply of pre-foreclosures and revitalizing neighborhoods, ideal for fix-and-flip deals.
• Investor Appeal: Strong demand from rental and flip investors, fueled by Arizona’s no-income-tax policy and warm climate.

2. Tampa, Florida

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$375,000
• Key Factors: Explosive population growth (850 new residents daily in Florida), strong rental demand from tourism, and appreciation potential in mobile homes, duplexes, and multifamily properties.
• Distressed Inventory: High number of pre-foreclosures and tired landlord properties.
• Investor Appeal: Attracts out-of-state investors seeking cash-flowing rentals and value-add flips.

3. San Antonio, Texas

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$299,467
• Key Factors: Affordable housing, balanced vacancy rate (8.4%), and a growing economy driven by healthcare, military, and tourism.
• Distressed Inventory: Significant inventory of foreclosures and absentee-owned properties.
• Investor Appeal: Active fix-and-flip and rental investor community, particularly in Opportunity Zones.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$400,000
• Key Factors: Booming tech, film, and logistics sectors drive population growth and housing demand.
• Distressed Inventory: Up-and-coming neighborhoods offer distressed homes ideal for fix-and-flip projects.
• Investor Appeal: Strong demand from BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) and rental investors.

5. Charlotte, North Carolina

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$380,000
• Key Factors: Fast-growing financial hub with rising rents and a low vacancy rate (~5%).
• Distressed Inventory: Inherited and vacant properties in East and West Charlotte provide off-market opportunities.
• Investor Appeal: High demand for entry-level housing and multifamily properties.

6. Indianapolis, Indiana

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$250,000
• Key Factors: Stable job market with growth in tech and logistics, landlord-friendly laws, and a large out-of-state investor presence.
• Distressed Inventory: Abundant pre-foreclosures and inherited properties in areas like Martindale-Brightwood and Garfield Park.
• Investor Appeal: High demand for entry-level rentals and turnkey properties.

7. Memphis, Tennessee

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$200,000
• Key Factors: Top cash-flow market with high eviction rates creating motivated sellers, and heavy investor activity in Whitehaven and Parkway Village.
• Distressed Inventory: Significant number of tired landlord and distressed properties.
• Investor Appeal: Strong demand from out-of-state investors for cheap rentals.

Wholesaler Tip: Partner with local property managers to find tired landlords. List deals on OfferMarket to reach verified buyers quickly.

8. St. Louis, Missouri

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$145,000
• Key Factors: High rental yields in working-class neighborhoods like North City and South City, and abundant distressed inventory.
• Distressed Inventory: Inherited properties and HELOC foreclosures are common.
• Investor Appeal: Strong demand for turnkey and BRRRR deals.

9. Baltimore, Maryland

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$200,000
• Key Factors: High cap rates, strong Section 8 rental demand, and an aging housing stock creating distressed seller opportunities.
• Distressed Inventory: Vacant rowhomes in Druid Heights and Sandtown are prime targets.
• Investor Appeal: Attracts value-add investors and rehabbers.

10. Cleveland, Ohio

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$130,000
• Key Factors: Steady demand from BRRRR investors, high rate of absentee owners, and distressed properties in zip codes like 44105 and 44120.
• Distressed Inventory: Large number of vacant and foreclosed homes.
• Investor Appeal: Out-of-state investors from high-cost markets like California and New York.

11. Birmingham, Alabama

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$150,000
• Key Factors: Low competition, high rental returns, and properties with equity due to recent appreciation.
• Distressed Inventory: Distressed homes in Ensley and West End provide off-market opportunities.
• Investor Appeal: Strong demand for sub-$100,000 houses.

12. Detroit, Michigan

Why It’s Hot:

• Median Home Price: ~$100,000
• Key Factors: Massive inventory of vacant and distressed homes, and a steady influx of investor cash from high-cost markets.
• Distressed Inventory: High number of foreclosures and abandoned properties.
• Investor Appeal: Ideal for cash-flow and neighborhood stabilization projects.

Honorable Mentions

Emerging markets gaining traction for wholesaling include:

• Little Rock, Arkansas: Low-cost housing and growing investor interest.
• Des Moines, Iowa: Stable economy and affordable rentals.
• Greenville, South Carolina: Rising rents and population growth.
• Wichita, Kansas: Low median home prices and landlord-friendly laws.
• Chattanooga, Tennessee: Increasing investor activity and distressed inventory.

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Strategies for Finding Wholesale Properties

To succeed in these markets, wholesalers must employ effective strategies to source off-market deals and build buyer networks:

1. Driving for Dollars: Drive through target neighborhoods to identify distressed or vacant properties (e.g., overgrown lawns, boarded windows). Contact owners using public records or OfferMarket Intelligence.
2. Direct Mail Campaigns: Send postcards or letters to pre-foreclosure homeowners, absentee owners, or tired landlords. Follow up consistently to convert leads.
3. Public Records Research: Access courthouse or online records to find properties in foreclosure, probate, or tax delinquency.
4. Networking: Attend Real Estate Investors Associations (REIAs), connect with local agents, and join OfferMarket’s community to build relationships with buyers and sellers.
5. Creative Financing: Use subject-to or seller financing to lock up deals in competitive markets like Tampa. OfferMarket’s private lending division can fund these transactions.
6. Online Marketplaces: Platforms like OfferMarket provide access to off-market listings, verified buyers, and tools like the Cash Offer Calculator to analyze deals.
7. PropStream: this real estate data platform provides advanced filters for identifying distressed properties, absentee owners, or high-equity homes, streamlining your lead generation for off market properties.

How OfferMarket Empowers Real Estate Professionals

OfferMarket, launched in 2020, is a transformative platform for wholesalers, flippers, landlords, and lenders. Its investment property marketplace and private lending division streamline the wholesaling process, offering tools, data, and financing to maximize efficiency and profitability.

OfferMarket Investment Property Marketplace

OfferMarket’s marketplace connects wholesalers with motivated sellers and verified buyers, focusing on off-market properties like distressed homes, turnkey rentals, and wholesale deals. Key features include:

• Verified Listings and Buyers: OfferMarket’s trust and safety team verifies listings with proof of control (e.g., contracts) and screens buyers for proof of funds, ensuring reliable transactions.
• Free Membership: No monthly fees, making it accessible for new and experienced wholesalers. List deals in under 60 seconds and browse exclusive off-market properties.
• Buyer Messaging and Screening: Communicate directly with buyers, screen offers, and build long-term buyer lists. OfferMarket’s network includes over 10,000 verified investors.
• Marketing Tools: Promote listings via email and social media to reach out-of-state and local buyers, increasing deal velocity.
• Cash Offer Calculator: Analyze deals by estimating after-repair value (ARV) and repair costs, helping wholesalers present compelling offers.

Why It Matters: The marketplace eliminates daisy chains and unreliable buyers, allowing wholesalers to sell deals faster with transparency. In markets like St. Louis and Cleveland, where distressed inventory is high, OfferMarket connects wholesalers to investors seeking turnkey or value-add properties.

OfferMarket Intelligence (OMI)

OfferMarket Intelligence (OMI) is a proprietary tool that surfaces off-market and distressed property leads nationwide. Key features include:

• Lead Filters: Identify owners in foreclosure (including HELOC defaults), vacant properties, inherited homes, and tax-delinquent properties.
• Contact Information: Access owner contact details for just $1 per lead, reducing the need for costly data scraping or cold calling.
• Equity and Mortgage Data: Filter by equity, owner occupancy, and mortgage status to target high-conversion leads.

Why It Matters: OMI saves investors time by providing actionable leads in markets like Birmingham and Detroit, where distressed properties are abundant. Instead of manual research, investors can focus on negotiating and closing deals.

OfferMarket Private Lending Division

OfferMarket Capital provides fast, flexible financing for wholesalers and investors, specializing in 1-4 unit residential properties across 43 states. Key features include:

• Loan Types: Hard money fix-and-flip bridge loans, DSCR rental loans.
• Competitive Terms: No junk fees, fast approvals, and flexible payment schedules based on property cash flow or profit potential.
• Referral Income: Wholesalers earn up to $1,000 per deal funded by OfferMarket Capital, creating an additional revenue stream.
• Speed and Transparency: Loans close in days, not weeks, enabling buyers to act quickly in competitive markets like Charlotte and Tampa.

Why It Matters: Financing is often a bottleneck in wholesaling. OfferMarket Capital help buyers close deals, while wholesalers benefit from faster assignments and referral commissions.

Additional Tools and Support

OfferMarket offers a suite of resources to enhance wholesaling success:

• Due Diligence Tools: Title search, curative services, property valuations, and cap rate calculators help wholesalers present professional deal packets.
• Rental Portfolio Optimization: Free calculators analyze profitability and support offer submissions.
• Landlord Insurance: Shop 40+ carriers to save on premiums for buyers, increasing deal appeal.
• Educational Content: Blogs and podcasts cover wholesaling strategies, market trends, and financing, helping wholesalers stay competitive.

How to Get Started:

1. Browse the Marketplace: Find off-market deals or comps to price contracts accurately.
2. Unlock Seller Leads: Use OMI to source motivated sellers in target markets.
3. List Deals: Upload photos, comps, and disclosures to attract buyers.
4. Tap into Lending: Apply for funding to support double closes or buyer financing.
5. Scale Your Business: Use OfferMarket’s community to connect with investors and repeat the process.

Challenges and Solutions in Wholesaling

Wholesaling presents challenges that require strategic solutions:

1. Finding Motivated Sellers: Use OfferMarket’s OMI to identify high-conversion leads and combine with direct mail or driving for dollars.
2. Building a Buyer List: Leverage OfferMarket’s verified investor network and attend local REIAs to connect with active buyers.
3. Deal Analysis Accuracy: Avoid overestimating ARV with OfferMarket’s valuation tools and Cash Offer Calculator.
4. Legal Compliance: Work with a real estate attorney and use OfferMarket’s verified platform to ensure ethical transactions.
5. Competition: Stand out in markets like Phoenix and Atlanta by acting quickly and using OfferMarket’s marketing tools to reach buyers.

Tips for Scaling Your Wholesaling Business

1. Focus on One Market: Master a market like Indianapolis or Memphis by learning neighborhoods block by block.
2. Leverage Technology: Use OfferMarket’s tools to streamline lead generation, deal analysis, and buyer connections.
3. Build Relationships: Prioritize long-term partnerships with buyers, sellers, and lenders to increase deal flow.
4. Stay Educated: Follow OfferMarket’s blogs and podcasts for insights on market trends and strategies.
5. Act Fast: Enable notifications on OfferMarket to respond to opportunities within 24-48 hours.

Conclusion

Real estate wholesaling in 2025 offers immense opportunities for investors who choose the right markets and tools. Cities like Phoenix, Tampa, San Antonio, Atlanta, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Memphis, St. Louis, Baltimore, Cleveland, Birmingham, and Detroit stand out for their affordability, distressed inventory, and investor demand. Emerging markets like Little Rock and Greenville also show promise for wholesalers seeking less competitive landscapes.

OfferMarket is a game-changer for wholesalers, providing a free marketplace to connect with verified buyers, OMI for sourcing off-market leads, and a private lending division for fast financing. Tools like the Cash Offer Calculator, due diligence services, and educational resources empower wholesalers to analyze deals, close faster, and scale their businesses. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, OfferMarket’s ecosystem simplifies the wholesaling process, making it easier to succeed in competitive markets.

Start with OfferMarket today to unlock off-market deals, connect with investors, and leverage private lending to maximize profits. Pick a market, master its nuances, and use OfferMarket’s tools to transition from deal-chaser to deal-maker in 2025.

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