Most of the best new-home markets are in the South

Eight of the top 10 U.S. metros for buying newly built homes are in the South, led by Charleston, where new homes are priced 12.2% below existing ones. Southern markets benefit from builder-friendly conditions like permissive zoning and lower land costs, boosting supply and affordability. Smaller, growing metros with major universities dominate the list. Boise and Madison are the only non-Southern metros in the top 10.