Prices are up as high as 30% in some relocation hotspots across the Sun Belt, where 9 of the 10 most popular US relocation destinations are, according to a report from Redfin released Monday.Prices are up as high as 30 percent in some relocation hotspots across the United States Sun Belt — where nine of the 10 most popular relocation destinations are — pricing out locals and aspiring relocators alike, according to a new report from the online brokerage Redfin.
“Moving across the country is now easier for many Americans, thanks to remote work. That cultural shift is here to stay,” said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. “What’s changing is the affordability of the most popular destinations. Some locals, particularly renters who aren’t able to take advantage of rising home values, are getting priced out of places like Phoenix and Austin as the cost of housing and other goods and services go up.”
Inman Connect
Secure your tickets now for in-person & digital events!
Inman Top 5: The biggest stories of the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2022
You’re invited to Inman Connect’s 25th anniversary celebration
Introducing the 2022 Inman Global Ambassador Team
In Phoenix, the typical home sold for 28 percent higher in December than it did a year ago — well above the national average of 15 percent — while the average monthly rent price increased by 26 percent year over year. Consumer goods are also rising higher in relocation destinations, with an influx of new residents driving up inflation, according to a separate Redfin report.
Part of the price growth is driven by out-of-towners with larger budgets entering the market.
“Sellers are listing their homes at higher prices than ever before, partly because of huge demand in the last year from out-of-towners,” Austin Redfin agent Barb Cooper said in a statement.“I recently had a couple looking for a 2,000-square-foot home anywhere in the Austin area for under $300,000. I had to tell them it doesn’t exist.”
During the same period, all three cities saw the number of homes on the market decreased significantly. The amount of homes for sale decreased in Phoenix by 18.6 percent between 2020 and 2021, by 27.6 percent in Dallas, and by 29 percent in Orlando, according to Redfin.
“New construction tends to be robust in sprawling Sun Belt cities, and local governments ought to continue to prioritize building new homes to keep up with ongoing demand,” he said.