Housing affordability continues to be a top concern for buyers, leaving many with the desire to relocate from less expensive areas of the U.S.. According to recent data from real estate marketing platform Redfin, 19.1% of U.S. house hunters looked to move from one part of the U.S. to another in Q-1 2026, up from 18.9% a year earlier and the highest share in records dating back to 2021. Additionally, the data shows that buyers are predominantly heading for the Sunbelt, where home prices tend to be cheaper.

Homebuyers are showing interest in Sunbelt metros, especially those in Florida

Sunbelt cities, in particular, are attracting homebuyers, but Florida is the most popular. Orlando, Fla., had the most interest from relocating homebuyers in Q-1 2026. It’s followed by three other Sunbelt cities, which include North Port, Miami, and Cape Coral. Tampa was also in the top 10, just behind the Las Vegas metro.

House hunters are moving out of expensive cities

Meanwhile, expensive coastal metros are seeing the largest outflow of homebuyers. U.S. house hunters left New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles more than any other major metro in Q-1 2026.