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Log outAffordability Is Reshaping Where Americans Want to Buy Homes.
Housing affordability is not only changing what buyers can purchase. It is also changing where they are looking. Redfin reported that 19.1% of U.S. house hunters searched for homes in a different metro area during the first quarter of 2026. That was the highest share in Redfin records dating back to 2021.
The trend points to a broader economic story. When mortgage rates, home prices, and everyday costs stay high, buyers become more willing to compare markets. Instead of only asking, “Can I buy here?” many are asking, “Where does my income go further?”
According to Redfin, popular relocation destinations included Orlando, North Port, Miami, Cape Coral, Las Vegas, Tampa, Phoenix, Sacramento, Tucson, and Myrtle Beach. Florida dominated the list, while Sun Belt markets remained attractive because they often offer warmer weather, lifestyle appeal, and relatively lower housing costs compared with the expensive metros people are leaving.
At the same time, many house hunters are looking to leave high-cost job centers. Redfin listed New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Jose, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston among the top metros with the largest net outflow of searchers.
| Rank | Metro Area | Net Outflow | Top Destination | Top Out-of-State Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | -28,351 | Miami, FL | Miami, FL |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | -26,349 | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix, AZ |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | -23,971 | San Diego, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | -23,483 | Sacramento, CA | Seattle, WA |
| 5 | Washington, D.C. | -21,241 | Salisbury, MD | Salisbury, MD |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | -19,579 | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee, WI |
| 7 | Boston, MA | -8,822 | Miami, FL | Miami, FL |
| 8 | Denver, CO | -3,692 | Colorado Springs, CO | Phoenix, AZ |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | -1,861 | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix, AZ |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | -1,686 | Greensboro, NC | Greenville, SC |
cf. Ranked by net outflow of Redfin.com home searchers among the top 100 U.S. metros in Q1 2026.
This does not necessarily mean more people are moving than during the pandemic housing boom. Redfin noted that overall homebuying activity is still sluggish, so the total number of movers may be lower than in 2021 or 2022. What changed is the share of active searchers considering another metro.
For buyers, this trend is a reminder that affordability is local. A national mortgage rate gives one snapshot, but the real buying decision depends on local prices, local taxes, insurance costs, commute needs, job flexibility, and long-term lifestyle tradeoffs.
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