--- title: 4 Hidden Signs That Your Home's Value Is Rising description: "School upgrades, business incentives and other activities can make an area more attractive to buyers —\_and increase the value of your home." authors: - name: Leslie Cook role: Editor, Real Estate url: https://money.com/author/leslie-cook/ bio: Leslie Cook is Money’s lead real estate editor covering trends in the housing market, mortgage rates and real estate. She also writes about home renovation trends and tips. education: Bryn Mawr College, BA History certifications: Certified Personal Finance Counselor at_money_since: 2019 articles: 798 covers: - Housing - Banking - Credit - Economy and Politics - Identity Theft - Insurance - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Professional Services - Retirement - Taxes social: - https://twitter.com/LeslieLCook - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-cook-9829b9198/ published: '2026-03-31T17:40:37.000Z' section: Housing word_count: 452 canonical: https://money.com/home-value-rising-signs/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Keys held in front of a house](https://img.money.com/2026/03/Explainer-Home-Value-Rising.jpg) Location, location, location. The phrase is often used to describe what makes a home desirable and, by extension, valuable. A building's features may make the property attractive to buyers, but it's the surrounding neighborhood that makes people really want to live there — and pay a higher premium to do so. Want to know if your home is secretly increasing in value because the area nearby is improving? These are some tell-tale signs. ## New infrastructure projects These projects can include new roads or highways, added green spaces such as parks and playgrounds, and improvements to public utilities such as sewer lines and electrical grids. Well-planned and executed improvements to existing infrastructure are a sign of economic growth that will attract more businesses and people to the area, raising home values. **How to spot:** Check your local newspaper for new project announcements. You can also log onto your local government's city planning department website and search for planned capital improvements. ## New business incentives Often at the core of revitalization projects, government incentives designed to attract new business are another indicator of economic growth. Cities and towns that offer lots of retail, dining and entertainment options are more attractive to prospective buyers. Homes within easy access of these amenities tend to fetch a higher price than those requiring a longer commute. **How to spot:** Check your city's economic development office website for new incentives that may be in the works. These plans are also often mentioned in the news, so routinely check for updates. ## School upgrades Investment in local schools that raise the quality of education, such as upgraded facilities, modernized equipment and new technologies, is another sign of area growth. Proximity to top-ranked schools is highly prized by families with school-age children, leading to a price premium for homes in those districts. **How to spot:** Your local newspaper will typically cover important news about school changes and improvements. You can also talk to parents who have children attending these schools for hands-on feedback. You could even have luck with local Facebook groups that have access to this information. #### [***Interested in refinancing your mortgage? See what Rocket has to offer... in under three minutes***](https://money.com/pr/u7c1f41369a2). ## Community involvement Neighborhoods where homeowners actively maintain their properties and the surrounding areas are highly desirable to new buyers. Organized activities such as community gardens and neighborhood watch programs show a sense of homeowner pride that is compelling for many buyers seeking to raise a family in a safe environment — and who are willing to pay extra for it. **How to spot:** Some neighborhoods have a community newsletter or online chat group that covers local happenings, so consider subscribing or joining to keep in touch with the latest news. ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://money.com/home-value-rising-signs/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://money.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Housing", "item": "https://money.com/housing/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Home Selling", "item": "https://money.com/home-selling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "4 Hidden Signs That Your Home's Value Is Rising" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://money.com/#website", "url": "https://money.com", "name": "Money", "publisher": { "@id": "https://money.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://money.com/home-value-rising-signs/#webpage", "url": "https://money.com/home-value-rising-signs/", "name": "4 Hidden Signs That Your Home's Value Is Rising", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://money.com/#website" }, "datePublished": "2026-03-31T17:40:37.000Z", "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://money.com/home-value-rising-signs/" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://money.com/home-value-rising-signs/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "Article", "headline": "4 Hidden Signs That Your Home's Value Is Rising", "articleSection": "Housing", "image": [ { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://img.money.com/2026/03/Explainer-Home-Value-Rising.jpg", "width": 2121, "height": 1414, "caption": "Explainer-Home-Value-Rising" } ], "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leslie Cook", "url": "https://money.com/author/leslie-cook/", "@id": "https://money.com/author/leslie-cook/#author", "description": "Leslie Cook is Money’s lead real estate editor covering trends in the housing market, mortgage rates and real estate. 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