People continue to move, even when finding an affordable home takes some work. If you are considering a move, limited inventory and housing costs may have you wondering where to look and what to prioritize.
A report from Gravy Analytics offers insight into where people are searching for homes and what matters to them. Three themes stand out: lower housing costs, places that offer a vacation-style lifestyle and the flexibility to live farther from work.
You do not have to follow someone else’s moving plans. But understanding those priorities can give you a useful starting point for your own search. The question is not simply where people are going. It is whether a different location could better fit your budget and the life you want.
1. Buyers Are Looking for Lower Housing Costs
Affordability is a major reason buyers choose one location over another. People are relocating to areas with less expensive housing options, and small cities are thriving as a result.
Hannah Jones, Economics Data Analyst at Realtor.com, explains the motivation:
“Affordability is still very much front and center . . . a lot of what’s available is outside of the price range of many buyers. . . . so they look elsewhere for a little more bang for the buck.”
The practical takeaway is straightforward: if the homes in your preferred area do not fit your budget, consider looking beyond that area. Exploring nearby, more affordable locations may help you find options worth considering.
Give Your Search Some Room
Before you rule out moving, take a closer look at the boundaries you have placed around your search. Are you focused on one city because it truly meets your needs, or because it is the place you know best?
You do not have to abandon your first choice. Start by comparing it with a few other locations. Keep your budget and priorities consistent so you can judge whether those alternatives actually make sense for you.
- Which nearby communities would you be willing to explore?
- What do you need in a home, and what would simply be nice to have?
- Would you consider a smaller city if its housing options better fit your budget?
The goal is not to move somewhere just because it costs less. It is to see whether a broader search gives you a better fit without losing sight of what matters most.
2. People Want to Live Where They Vacation
Housing costs are not the only consideration. Buyers are also choosing places that offer the surroundings and activities they enjoy on vacation.
That might mean a suburb near the beach, a mountain town or a community near a lake. The Gravy Analytics report describes the pattern this way:
“Whether it’s the opportunity to enjoy more weekend hikes in the mountains or to wake up to a lakeside sunrise, people are moving to areas that were once thought of as vacation spots.”
If you are already considering a wider search area, think about whether your favorite kind of destination belongs on the list. Rather than focusing only on the house, consider what you want life outside the house to look like.
Connect the Lifestyle to a Real Plan
Start with what appeals to you about that setting. Is it access to hiking? Being near the water? Having the surroundings you usually seek out for a getaway?
Then bring the conversation back to your housing budget. A location can be appealing without being the right choice for your move. Treat it as an option to investigate, not a decision you have already made.
If you already own a home, your equity may help make the move possible. Equity from selling your current house can help fund your next purchase, including the down payment on the home you want.
That is a reason to explore the idea, not a promise that every destination will work. Ask what equity could be available from a sale and how it might fit into your next purchase. Consider that alongside home prices and mortgage rates rather than assuming your preferred location is out of reach.
3. Remote Work Gives Buyers More Flexibility
Remote work is another major factor in where people move. Without a daily commute shaping every location decision, buyers have more room to consider other priorities.
A report from the McKinsey Global Institute explains:
“Many of these moves happened because employees untethered from their daily commutes began to care less about how far they lived from the office.”
The same report notes that, among people who moved during the pandemic, 55% reported moving farther from the office. That figure describes the group studied, rather than every buyer considering a move.
For remote or hybrid workers, living in the same city as their job, or sometimes even the same state, may not be necessary. That flexibility can let buyers prioritize other goals, such as living closer to loved ones.
Remote work remains a popular choice, and buyers will likely continue using that flexibility when deciding where to live.
Start With Your Actual Work Needs
Before expanding your search, ask how much location flexibility your work arrangement gives you. If you work a hybrid schedule, what would living farther away mean for the days you go into the office?
Then ask what you would do with that flexibility. Would you look for lower housing costs, move closer to family or explore a place you have always enjoyed visiting?
Turn These Priorities Into Your Next Step
You do not need to pursue all three moving trends. Choose the priority that matters most, then use the others to help evaluate your options.
- Set your direction. Decide whether affordability, lifestyle or proximity to loved ones comes first.
- Choose locations to compare. Include your preferred area and alternatives you would genuinely consider.
- Discuss the purchase plan. Review your budget and, if you own a home, how your equity could support the move.
A trusted real estate agent can help you navigate inventory and affordability challenges as you search for the right home. For your next step, write down your top priority and a short list of places to explore. Then reach out to Ed Parcaut to discuss the mortgage side of your move and how it fits your plans.
