Money-conscious house hunters believe they have found a solution to the rising cost of living. Nearly one in five Americans shopping for a house are looking beyond their current metro area, with affordability concerns continuing to drive buyers toward the Sun Belt. A new Redfin report found that about 19 percent of buyers searched for homes in a different part of the country in early 2026 - the highest rate since the company began tracking migration data in 2021. This is a small increase from last year's 18.9 percent, and comes as elevated mortgage rates, staggering home prices and growing cost of living pressures impact where Americans are planting roots. Orlando was the most popular choice for house hunters from New York. It’s followed by three other Florida metros: North Port, Miami and Cape Coral, while Tampa snagged sixth place, after Las Vegas. Many of these booming destinations share two major draws: homes that are significantly cheaper than those in the expensive coastal markets buyers are leaving behind, and, generally, better weather. Redfin noted that the average home in Orlando costs 'just over $400,000,' or half the cost of the home in New York.

For Angelinos flocking to Las Vegas, there's a similar drop in home price, making the Nevada city an option for cost-conscious buyers seeking more space without the price tag. But lower cost of living is only part of the story: Florida real estate broker Liane Jamason told the Daily Mail that while affordability gets buyers to start looking, lifestyle is what actually gets them to move. 'One thing I am seeing is that today's buyers are much more informed than they were a few years ago,' Jamason said. 'They're asking detailed questions about insurance costs, flood zones, HOA fees and long-term carrying costs.'

'Five years ago many buyers focused almost entirely on purchase price,' she added. 'Today they're evaluating the total monthly cost of ownership.' According to Jamason, the Florida market itself has become 'much healthier.' During the pandemic, buyers were competing against dozens of offers with virtually no negotiating power. As inventory has increased across the state, homes are taking a little longer to sell, meaning buyers now have some leverage over the pricing. 'They're negotiating repairs, seller concessions and, in some cases, price reductions,' Jamason said.

'That's creating opportunities we simply haven't seen in several years.' Redfin claims the Sunshine State has 'always' attracted northern transplants, especially retirees, seeking warm weather and a beachy lifestyle. More recently, the company claims there has been an increase in people moving to Florida for job opportunities, especially with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin attracting engineers and tech workers from places like Seattle and California. And while long-distance moves have picked up, Redfin said migration into Florida has slowed down from its pandemic peak, meaning the massive population shifts seen in 2020 and 2021 are beginning to normalize.

Jamason agreed, saying she'd describe today's Florida market as a 'normalization rather than a downturn.' 'Serious buyers have more choices, sellers need to price strategically and transactions are happening at a much healthier pace than during the frenzy of 2021 and 2022,' she added. Price, weather and lifestyle aside, remote work acts as an added contributor fueling the move. Without companies tying down employees to one office, some have the flexibility to find more suitable neighborhoods. Other metros that saw an influx of new house hunters this year include Phoenix, Tucson and Myrtle Beach.