While coastal real estate markets often make headlines for dramatic price swings and speculation, Wichita, Kansas, has steadily established itself as a destination for investors focused on stable, long-term returns. The city’s diversified economy and affordable housing continue to attract out-of-state buyers seeking reliable cash flow and minimal volatility amid broader market uncertainty.
Joseph Hamer, a real estate agent and investor with ReeceNichols Real Estate South Central Kansas, has seen this trend develop up close. After leaving a career in education to pursue real estate full-time, Hamer completed eight home flips and now focuses on medium-term rentals, serving clients across $9 million in annual transaction volume.
Economic Diversity Anchors Market Stability
Wichita’s reputation as a stable market is rooted in its broad economic base, which includes aerospace, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. While known as the “air capital of the world” and home to major aerospace companies such as Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita’s economy extends far beyond aviation.
“The beautiful part about Wichita is it’s not a standalone sector,” Hamer says. “We also have a huge healthcare system with multiple hospitals, Wichita State University, Koch Industries, and various other industries. If aerospace left Wichita, it would make an impact, but it would by no means sink the city.”
This economic mix has created what Hamer describes as a “safe place to park money somewhere and not worry about the next big rise or fall.” Wichita consistently ranks among the most affordable large cities in the United States, with housing costs well below the national average.
Measured Growth in Home Values
Wichita’s housing market mirrors the city’s steady economic profile. Average sales prices increased from $255,000 in 2023 to $277,000 in 2025—a $22,000 gain that Hamer calls “very healthy, especially in an insulated market.”
Current market data shows ongoing strength, with homes averaging 35 days on the market and a median time to close of about two weeks. The median home price is $245,000, keeping homeownership within reach for local families and supporting steady returns for investors.
“You don’t see the huge swings and falls that you see on the coast,” Hamer notes. “It’s a safe place both to live and a safe place for parking money.”
Migration Patterns Highlight Affordability
Migration data underscores Wichita’s appeal as both a cost-saving destination and a launchpad for those seeking urban amenities. People are moving to Wichita from high-cost cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver, while some residents relocate to larger Midwest metros such as Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Chicago.
The reason is straightforward economics. “You look at a house that’s $10 million in Seattle, and in Wichita for $10 million you could have dozens and dozens of acres and whatever you want,” Hamer observes. “When the dollar feels tighter, people want somewhere that’s still affordable and safe for their family and still fun.”
Medium-Term Rentals Gain Momentum
Hamer has found particular success with medium-term rentals, which serve traveling professionals, including nurses, aerospace workers, and Koch Industries employees. This approach offers higher returns and less management work compared to short-term rentals, which are increasingly restricted by city regulations.
“I love the additional cash flow, but more importantly, it’s the tenant class I’m working with,” Hamer says. “Most of them travel for a living, so they don’t ask crazy questions and can take care of themselves.”
Typically, a medium-term rental hosts about four tenants per unit per year. This reduces management overhead while maintaining higher rental rates than traditional long-term leases.
Accessible Entry Points for Investors
Wichita’s investment landscape remains accessible, especially compared to coastal markets. Hamer currently has a duplex listed at $150,000, with one side renting for $775 per month and the updated unit expected to lease for at least $800.
“For an investor looking into Wichita, you can get a duplex for as little as $100,000 and as much as $400,000 for new build, giant duplexes,” he says. This range accommodates various investment strategies and capital levels.
However, rising home prices are creating challenges for traditional buy-and-hold investors. “Numbers are always getting harder to make work on long-term rentals,” Hamer acknowledges. “Prices of homes continue to go up, but long-term rents in Wichita don’t climb at the same rate as other large cities.”
New Construction Remains Strong
Despite forecasts of flat new-construction growth in 2026, Hamer sees opportunity in building on Wichita’s outskirts, where land remains affordable. Suburbs like Kechi, Valley Center, Goddard, Andover, Derby, and Rose Hill are expanding as the metro area grows.
“New construction homes are doing well when it comes to selling,” he reports. “You can have a brand new home built for really a similar cost to what you’re buying a 15 or 20-year-old house for right now.”
If capital weren’t a constraint, Hamer would focus on new construction on available land, viewing it as the best long-term investment given Wichita’s population growth and limited supply of developable land.
Financing Remains Investor-Friendly
Wichita’s lending environment supports a range of investment strategies. Multiple hard-money lenders, commercial banks offering portfolio loan options, and smaller local lenders actively serve the fix-and-flip and BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) markets.
“There’s definitely a strong community here in Wichita,” Hamer says. “For being a big community, it’s also small enough that word gets around fast. It’s a small network of investors where people who aren’t reliable don’t last very long, but it’s large enough that you have a lot of hands to shake.”
Wage and Housing Cost Balance
The main challenge for the Wichita market is maintaining the balance between wages and housing costs. Local salaries remain aligned with the area’s lower cost of living, which has historically helped preserve affordability even as home prices rise.
This dynamic keeps homeownership accessible for local families and prevents the kind of runaway price inflation seen in other markets. For investors, this means rental growth is steady but not explosive, requiring disciplined underwriting and realistic return expectations.
Long-Term Outlook: Stability Over Speculation
When asked what could disrupt Wichita’s stability, Hamer answers bluntly: “Probably World War III. Outside of that, I think we’ll be all right.”
This confidence is underpinned by Wichita’s economic diversity and the redundancies built into each sector. Even if a major employer left, the city’s mix of healthcare, education, manufacturing, and other industries would cushion the impact.
For investors who value steady returns and minimal volatility, Wichita offers a straightforward proposition. The city’s growth remains consistent—“up and to the right,” as Hamer puts it—driven by economic fundamentals rather than speculative bubbles.
As major markets nationwide experience sharp fluctuations and uncertainty, Wichita’s measured approach to growth is increasingly attractive to those who prioritize stability over outsized gains. In a period marked by economic unpredictability, the city’s quiet consistency stands out as its strongest asset.
