Seattle, Washington

Seattle—which claimed the fourth spot on last year’s list—jumped to number one this time around. The Pacific-Northwest haven may be best known as a tech mecca (both Microsoft and Amazon have headquarters in the area), but it’s strong in plenty of other areas, as well; survey respondents gave the city high marks for livability and technology readiness.

Population growth in Seattle is twice the national rate, and the workforce is young and educated: 37 percent of residents have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, and 17 percent have a graduate or professional degree. According to the report, a positive outlook is expected for property sectors across the board, with the strongest investment and development opportunities in industrial and single-family housing.

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