When a big-box retailer opens its doors to the public, it’s often more than just a new place to shop—it’s a signal. These chains follow an increase in consumer demand, so their arrival often signals population growth, new residential construction, and a booming housing market.
“Large retailers tend to target markets that are already experiencing population growth and are expected to continue to grow,” it said. Hannah Jonessenior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®.
“In that sense, new mall openings can bolster growth by making the area more attractive to shoppers. Expanded amenities can help attract and retain residents, which in turn supports housing demand and, potentially, property values.”
Florida real estate agent and investor Ron Myers of Ron Buys Florida Homes agrees, telling Realtor.com, “When malls come in, it gives buyers confidence. It tells them the area isn’t shrinking, it’s growing.”
Home improvement stores are a good sign
New big-box home improvement stores, in particular, tend to be associated with a large and stable homeowner base.
“Their presence suggests that there are enough owner-occupied homes to sustain the need for remodeling, maintenance and repair projects,” said Jones. “In growing urban markets, this can reflect both new construction activity and a stable population investing in their homes.”
On a recent earnings call, Home Depot EVP and CFO Richard McPhail revealed that the retailer plans to open about 15 stores by 2026.
He also said it will add 12 stores by 2025—one of which was opened at the World Commerce Center in St. Augustine, FL.
The median listing price there sits at $468,500, and home buyers are getting a growing selection of homes.
“This area is seeing a wave of new construction and master-planned communities, with easy access to I-95,” Myers said. “There’s still an ongoing need.”
Bullseye for homeowners
Target is doubling down on bricks and sand, with plans to open more than 30 locations across the country by 2026.
This should be welcome news to nearby property owners, as homes located in the same ZIP code as a Target store received a nearly 27% higher appreciation in sales prices, according to one 2015 study.
Last year, Target selected the Prasada area of Surprise, AZ, as one of its new store locations, arriving in a city with a rapidly growing real estate market.
John Gluchfounder of Gluch Group at eXp Realty in Arizona, tells Realtor.com, “People are tired of Scottsdale/Gilbert prices and realizing they can get a brand new, 3,000-square-foot house on Prasada South for the price of a 40-year-old fixer-upper in Tempe.”
The median listing price in Surprise is $439,950, compared to $1,100,000 in Scottsdale, $600,000 in Gilbert, and $497,000 in Tempe.
Gluch points to the proliferation of new stores like Target as a big draw. “Consumers like everything to be clean, organized, and five minutes away,” he said. “If you’re a family or a lock-and-go traveler, it’s hard to beat the value-to-lifestyle ratio we have here.”
Big box, big benefits
BJ’s Wholesale Club is expanding its footprint with eight new locations planned for 2026—one of which is headed to Forney, TX, a thriving city 20 miles east of Dallas that is becoming one of the region’s hottest growth corridors.
Real estate agent Evan Downey of eXp Realty tells Realtor.com that Forney sales “make everyday life easier for residents, but also tend to boost buyer confidence and help support home values over time.”
He says Forney is one of the few areas near Dallas where buyers can still find a new home at an affordable price.
The median listing price in Forney is $335,000, compared to $405,000 in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Forney stands out among Dallas neighborhoods, he says, because buyers can get more home for less money. And the wave of big-name retailers moving in—including BJ’s, Home Depot, Target, and HEB—suggests the area has reached critical mass.
“That’s a sign that the population in this area has reached a point where the big companies feel confident in investing for the long term,” Downey said.
