Remote Work Drives Sustained Interest in Relocation, with 30% of Homebuyers Looking to Move Metros

Driven by the permanence of remote work, nearly one-third of U.S. homebuyers are actively looking to purchase a home in a different metropolitan area. This represents a significant, sustained shift above pre-pandemic trends, according to an analysis of housing search data from the fourth quarter of 2021.

How many people are looking to relocate?

Nationwide, 30.3% of homebuyers searched for homes in a metro area different from their own in October and November. While this is down slightly from a peak of 31.5% in early 2021, it remains substantially higher than the 25-26% rate common before the pandemic. This data is based on a sample of approximately 2 million users, with searches filtered to reflect a high intent to relocate.

The sustained high level of interest underscores a fundamental change in housing mobility. The ability to work remotely has removed a major obstacle for many, widening the search for a home from a specific neighborhood to the entire country. A strong labor market also provides confidence for those with in-person jobs to secure employment in a new location.

Which cities are the most popular destinations?

Homebuyer migration trends consistently favor affordable metros with warm climates. The top destinations by net inflow—a measure of how many more people are looking to move in than leave—are dominated by Sun Belt cities.

Florida has seen a particularly sharp increase in popularity. Net inflow into Miami has nearly tripled compared to the previous year, while interest in Tampa has nearly doubled. Buyers are often attracted by factors like beaches, warmer weather, lower taxes, and more affordable housing compared to major coastal cities.

Where are people moving from?

The list of metros with the highest net outflow—where more people are looking to leave than move in—is dominated by large, expensive coastal cities.

This trend, accelerated by the pandemic, shows that residents of these high-cost areas are seeking more affordable housing and different lifestyles, often enabled by remote work flexibility.

What does this mean for the housing market?

The data indicates that the geographic reshuffling of the U.S. population is not a temporary phenomenon. Remote work has permanently altered homebuyer behavior, granting millions the flexibility to prioritize lifestyle and affordability.

For buyers, this means competition remains strong in popular destination markets. For sellers in outflow cities, the pool of potential buyers may be changing. Based on our experience assessment, this migration trend is likely to continue putting upward pressure on home prices in sought-after Sun Belt metros while potentially moderating price growth in some major urban centers.