New data shows a growing share of U.S. homebuyers exploring relocation, with Sun Belt states drawing the largest inflow.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A rising share of Americans searching for homes are considering moving to a different part of the country, according to new data from the real estate brokerage Redfin.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, 18.8 percent of U.S. house hunters were looking to relocate to another region, the firm said in a March 10 report. The figure marks an increase from 17.9 percent one year earlier and from 15.9 percent five years ago during the pandemic era.
Redfin attributed the increase partly to improving housing conditions and a gradual decline in mortgage rates.
“Migration from one part of the country to another ticked up in 2025 as mortgage rates eased and more homes came on the market,” Redfin said in a statement. “While home sales were still slow, more buyers and renters were able to relocate.”
Mortgage rates had remained historically low during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the average weekly rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage largely ranging between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent, according to data from Freddie Mac. The expansion of remote work during that period also enabled many Americans to move without changing employers.
In the years that followed, borrowing costs rose sharply. Mortgage rates peaked at 7.79 percent in October 2023 before gradually easing. Rates reached 7.04 percent in January 2025 and declined further to about 6 percent for the week ending March 4.
Redfin said remote work remains more prevalent than it was before the pandemic, continuing to allow workers greater flexibility in choosing where to live.
“Remote work also remains more common than it was before the pandemic, allowing more Americans to relocate for affordability or lifestyle reasons without changing jobs,” the company said.
Among metropolitan areas attracting the most relocating buyers, Sacramento, California, ranked first, followed by Las Vegas, Nevada. Several Florida metro areas also placed high on the list, including Cape Coral–Fort Myers, North Port–Sarasota and Miami.
At the state level, Florida led the nation as the most common destination for relocating homebuyers. South Carolina ranked second, followed by Arizona, Nevada and Tennessee.
Meanwhile, several major urban centers were the top sources of outbound movers. Los Angeles recorded the highest number of homebuyers leaving, followed by New York, the San Jose–San Francisco region, Seattle and Chicago.
Recent housing market indicators suggest modest improvement in affordability and activity.
A March 10 report from the National Association of Realtors said existing home sales rose 1.7 percent in February compared with the previous month. The group’s Housing Affordability Index also increased for the eighth consecutive month, reaching 117.6 in February, the highest reading since March 2022.
In a post on X on March 10, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner cited the improvement in affordability and credited President Donald Trump’s economic policies.
Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order restricting large Wall Street firms from purchasing single-family homes nationwide. In the same month, the administration ordered the purchase of $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities, a move intended to reduce mortgage rates and lower monthly housing payments.
Officials have also discussed additional measures aimed at expanding housing access. Those ideas include introducing 50-year mortgage terms to reduce monthly costs, declaring a national housing emergency to accelerate construction approvals and opening federal land for new housing development.
Despite improving conditions, economists say housing market activity remains below pre-pandemic levels.
National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that the U.S. economy currently has more than 6 million additional jobs compared with 2019, yet annual home sales remain about 1 million units lower than before the pandemic.
Yun also warned that limited housing supply could drive prices higher if demand strengthens.
“If demand picks up notably in the coming months and outpaces supply growth, home prices will inevitably rise,” Yun said. “That is why increasing supply is so important to help limit home price growth, improve housing affordability, and boost transactions.”
A separate March 4 analysis by Zillow suggested the housing market may be regaining momentum after a prolonged slowdown.
According to the real estate platform, home values increased in February for the first time in seven months, while existing home sales also improved compared with the previous year. Zillow said falling mortgage rates have boosted purchasing power for median-income households by roughly $30,000 over the past year.
“Zillow expects 2026 to be the first year of meaningful sales growth since 2021,” the report said. “A sustained dip for mortgage rates below 6 percent could provide a psychological boost that prompts more buyers and sellers to return to the market.”
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