SEATTLE — A record share of U.S. homebuyers searched for homes outside their local metropolitan area during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting continued affordability pressures even as overall home sales remain subdued, according to a new report from Redfin.
Redfin reported that 19.1% of prospective homebuyers looked to relocate to a different metro area during the first quarter, up from 18.9% a year earlier and the highest level since the real estate brokerage began tracking migration patterns in 2021.
The company attributed the trend to elevated home prices, high mortgage rates and broader inflation, which continue to push buyers from expensive markets toward more affordable regions.
Florida dominated Redfin’s ranking of the nation’s top relocation destinations. Orlando posted the largest net inflow of prospective buyers, followed by North Port, Miami and Cape Coral. Las Vegas ranked fifth, followed by Tampa and Phoenix.
Living Near Mickey
Redfin said Orlando has become especially attractive because its typical home price is just over $400,000—roughly half the median price in New York City, the largest source of buyers relocating to the Central Florida market.
The brokerage said Florida continues to attract retirees seeking warmer weather, while employment opportunities have become an increasingly important driver. Redfin pointed to growth along Florida’s Space Coast, where aerospace companies including SpaceX and Blue Origin are drawing engineers and technology workers from higher-cost markets such as Seattle and California.
Despite the record share of relocating buyers, Redfin cautioned that the total number of people moving is likely lower than during the pandemic-era housing boom because overall homebuying activity remains sluggish.
Markets Losing Share
Among metros losing the largest share of prospective buyers, New York ranked first, followed by Seattle, Los Angeles, San Jose, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
According to Redfin, buyers leaving New York most frequently searched for homes in Miami, Seattle residents gravitated toward Phoenix, and Los Angeles homebuyers increasingly looked to Las Vegas.
The company also found migration patterns continue to normalize following the pandemic. New York’s net outflow fell to roughly 28,000 prospective buyers during the first quarter, down from about 46,000 in 2022. San Jose’s net outflow declined to approximately 23,000 from roughly 74,000 four years earlier.
‘Boomerang Migration’
Redfin also reported evidence of continued “boomerang migration,” with some markets that experienced rapid pandemic growth now seeing more residents leave than arrive. Charlotte, N.C., recorded a net outflow of about 1,700 prospective buyers during the first quarter after posting strong inflows several years ago, while Austin, Texas, also shifted into negative territory after benefiting from the remote-work migration boom.
