"The South's Housing Market Heats Up: Top 5 Hottest Metros Revealed"

The Southern states of the US are topping the housing index due to strong fundamentals such as wage and job growth, affordability, and population growth. Gainesville, Georgia tops the index with an annual home value appreciation of 21%. The Southeastern US claims all ten of the hottest housing markets, with Florida claiming four. These areas remain relatively affordable and are attracting people and businesses, making them 'up and coming' in comparison to larger, unaffordable metro areas.