Why do department stores often reveal an upcoming community?

When a major retailer opens its doors in a community, it’s usually more than just a new place to shop — it’s a signal. These chains follow rising consumer demand, so their arrival often signals population growth, new residential construction, and a housing market on the rise.

“Big retailers typically target markets that are already experiencing population growth and are expected to continue expanding,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

“In this sense, large-scale new retail openings can boost growth by making the area more attractive to potential buyers. Expanded retail facilities can help attract and retain residents, which in turn supports housing demand, and potentially property values.”

Florida real estate agent and investor Ron Myers Ron buys Florida homes He agrees, telling Realtor.com: “When big box stores move in, it gives buyers confidence. It tells them the area isn’t slowing down, it’s growing.”

Home improvement stores are a good sign

Large, new home improvement stores, in particular, tend to align with a large, stable base of homeowners.

“Their presence indicates that there are enough owner-occupied homes to support the demand for renovation, maintenance and modernization projects,” Jones says. “In growing suburban markets, this can reflect new construction activity and residents’ steady investment in their homes.”

In a Recent earnings callHome Depot EVP and CFO Richard McPhail revealed that the retailer plans to open about 15 stores in 2026.

He also said it added 12 stores in 2025, one of which was opened at the World Trade Center in St. Augustine, Florida.

The median list price there is $468,500, and homebuyers find a wide variety of housing.

“The area is seeing a wave of new construction and master-planned communities, with easy access to I-95,” Myers says. “There is still consistent demand.”

A starting point for homeowners

goal It’s doubling down on its brick-and-mortar efforts, with plans to open more than 30 locations across the country in 2026.

This should be welcome news to nearby property owners, since homes located in the same zip code as a Target store saw a nearly 27% jump in sales prices, according to a 2015 study.

Last year, Target selected the Prasada District in Surprise, Arizona, as one of its new store locations, as it is located in a city with a rapidly growing real estate market.

John Gloch, founder Gloch Group at eXp Realty In Arizona, Realtor.com says, “People were tired of Scottsdale/Gilbert prices and realized they could get a 3,000-square-foot new home in Brasada South for the price of a 40-year-old penthouse 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 increase in new stores like Target as a major attraction. “Buyers like everything to be clean, planned, and literally five minutes away,” he says. “If you’re a family or a stop-and-go traveler, it’s hard to beat the value-to-lifestyle ratio we have here.”

Big box, big gains

BJ’s Wholesale Club is expanding its presence by… Eight new sites Planned for 2026 – one is headed to Forney, Texas, a thriving suburb 20 miles east of Dallas that is quickly becoming one of the region’s hottest growth corridors.

Real estate agent Evan Downey XP Realty Realtor.com tells Forney’s retail boom “makes daily life easier for residents, but it also tends 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 get a new home at a more affordable price.

The median listing price in Forney is $335,000, compared to $405,000 in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Forney stands out among Dallas suburbs, he says, because buyers can get more homes for less money. The wave of big-name retailers moving into the area, including BJ’s, Home Depot, Target and HEB, suggests the area has reached critical mass.

“This is usually a sign that the population of an area has reached a level where major companies feel confident investing for the long term,” Downey says.