The wealthy are buying second homes in this SC city more than most others in US, Forbes says

A South Carolina city is one of four in the United States cited by Forbes magazine as places where the wealthy are buying second homes.

It’s Charleston, a top housing hotspot for 2026, according to The National Association of Realtors.

“Charleston punches way above its weight in terms of its cultural and culinary offerings, so second-home buyers coming from major metropolitan areas don’t feel like they have to give up a vibrant food, music, and art scene,” Mary Lou Wertz, founding partner of Charleston-based brokerage Maison Real Estate, told Forbes.

Forbes said people buying second, third or fourth homes are looking outside the traditional places, largely due to the ability to work remotely, favorable tax structures and long-term investment potential.

“A new generation of buyers looks beyond legacy markets like Aspen, Miami and the Hamptons,” Forbes said.

Sotheby’s International Realty’s 2026 Luxury Outlook Report said 28% of luxury home sales worldwide are second-home purchases.

“What has changed most heading into 2026 isn’t just where people are buying second or third homes, it’s how intentionally they’re using them,” says Mauricio Umansky, founder of global brokerage The Agency. “We’re seeing a clear rise in younger high-net-worth buyers, often founders, executives, and global entrepreneurs in their 30s and 40s, who are building real estate portfolios around flexibility. These homes are no longer occasional escapes. They’re part-time primary residences, remote work bases, and long-term lifestyle investments rolled into one.”

Forbes said what appeals to second home buyers about Charleston are its Lowcountry lifestyle, centuries-old architecture, Michelin-starred dining, walkability, beach access, art scene, and sense of community.

“Buyers are arriving from New York, the Midwest, Texas, and the Mountain West, drawn by its soul and charm, and its growing reputation as an economic hub for aerospace and manufacturing companies, among others,” Forbes said.

Charleston’s historic properties are drawing buyers looking for “soul and charm,” Forbes said.

The magazine pointed as an example to a 225-year-old estate that sold last November for $21 million, a record for the city. It was owned by Wayland H. Cato Jr., who with his father founded The Cato Corporation, a retail women’s fashion apparel store chain. He bought the house in 1992 and spent years restoring it.

He died in 2023 at 100.

Also on the Forbes list are:

Salt Lake City, Utah

Forbes said the region is “one of the country’s fastest-growing real estate markets, fueled by a booming tech sector, proximity to Park City’s world-class skiing, strong property appreciation, and year-round lifestyle.”

It is attracting buyers and investors from New York, California, and Texas, The Agency in its 2026 Red Paper.

Forbes quoted Molly Jones, managing partner at The Agency Salt Lake City, as saying interest has been higher for one reason because of the 2034 Winter Olympics and high rental income.

Naples and Pompano Beach, Florida

“The Gulf Coast city is no longer just a haven for Midwestern snowbirds,” Forbes said.

“A few billionaires call Naples home,” the magazine said.

The largest real estate transaction in Florida history was in Naples in 2025. A 15-acre compound sold for $225 million.

Across the state on the Atlantic Ocean, Pompano Beach is the quieter alternative to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Forbes said.

Architect Sohith Perera, founder of Kora Architecture, said, “What makes Pompano Beach particularly attractive as a second- or third-home market is the balance it strikes between accessibility and escape.”

Scottsdale, Arizona

You can’t beat 300 days of sunshine and top-ranked golf clubs, Forbes said.

There is also private aviation access, upscale wellness and good dining as well as no estate and inheritance taxes and low property tax in Arizona.

“Ultra-luxury condo developments are also gaining traction among both primary and secondary homebuyers seeking top-tier amenities, turnkey living, and high-quality finishes,” Forbes said.