Submitted Content from New Jersey Real Estate Network
According to a new study, Illinois is the most interested in investing in real estate.
Real estate company New Jersey Real Estate Network investigated which US states are most interested in investing in real estate. They did this by calculating the average number of monthly Google searches relating to investing for 218 different keywords such as, ‘how to invest in real estate’, ‘how to invest in property,’ and ‘rental property investment for the first five months of 2024 and 2025.’
States were then ranked by the highest rate of monthly searches per 100,000 residents between January to May 2025. The percentage difference in search interest between the first five months of 2024 and 2025 was also calculated.
Rounding out the top five is Michigan, with a monthly average of 489 Google searches related to investing in real estate per 100,000 residents. In 2024, the monthly average was 487, meaning that there was only a 0.57% increase in searches in 2025. Residents are actively exploring property investment opportunities, with “houses for sale” being the most searched term, averaging 21,380 searches per month, showing steady engagement despite rising home prices.
According to the study, Illinois is most interested in investing in real estate, with a monthly average of 515 Google searches relating to investing in real estate per 100,000 residents. In 2024, the monthly average was 510 searches per 100,000 residents, with only a 1.01% increase in Google searches in 2025. In 2025, the most searched term is ‘houses for sale,’ with a monthly average of 28,300 searches.
Second on this list is Wisconsin, with a monthly average of 508 Google searches per 100,000 residents. In 2024, the monthly average was 478, revealing a 6.26% increase in search interest from 2024. In 2025, the most searched term is ‘houses for sale’, with a monthly average of 14,260 searches.
Minnesota is third on the list, with a monthly average of 502 Google searches relating to investing in real estate per 100,000 residents. In 2024, the monthly average was 470 searches per 100,000 residents, meaning there was a 6.84% increase in searches in 2025. The most searched-for term in 2025 is ‘houses for sale’, with a monthly average of 14,260 searches.
Fourth on the list is Ohio, with a monthly average of 500 Google searches relating to investing in real estate per 100,000 residents. In 2024, the monthly average was 482, meaning that there was a 3.75% increase in searches in 2025. The state’s most searched term in 2025 is ‘houses for sale’, with a monthly average of 28,300 searches.
A spokesperson from New Jersey Real Estate Network commented on the findings,
“The US has seen a huge rise in house prices, with the average family home now costing around $503,800, which is over $100,000 more than the average cost in 2020.
“Despite significant rises, many Americans are looking to invest in real estate as a source of passive income or even a sole income. Illinoisians are most interested in investing in real estate, with the average price for a house in the state costing around $282,909, the 17th lowest average compared to other states.
“Six of the top 10 most interested states (Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Iowa) feature in the 20 lowest average costing states to buy a house.”