Housing News

The Top 10 Housing Markets Out-of-Towners Can’t Resist

March 4, 2026

Even with the pandemic firmly in the rearview, homebuyers are continuing to pick up and move across the country.

Where are they headed? The Sun Belt, according to a recent Realtor.com report.

These warm-weather housing markets typically boast lower home prices, are close to larger cities, and buyers don’t need to deal with snow. That appeals to out-of-town retirees, investors, and vacation home shoppers, according to the report.

“Those who are moving are increasingly untethered to the market they’re currently in,” said Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale in a statement. “Home shoppers are looking further afield than ever before.”

Florida cities claimed four of the top 10 spots with the highest demand from out-of-towners.

Cape Coral, Fla. had the highest percentage of out-of-towners looking at homes on Realtor.com. About 82.5% of all traffic to homes in the metropolitan area came from non-residents.

Real estate broker Suzanne Vasbinder, with Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty, said this is due to the steady growth and new development in the Cape Coral area.

The area, on the southwestern coast of Florida, has more than 400 miles of scenic canals. The median home list price in the metro was $399,999 in January, according to Realtor.com.

“We’re a waterfront paradise,” Vasbinder said. She recently sold several properties to buyers from Indiana who were drawn by the warmer weather in the winter. “You can just see people, when they’re here, they’re relaxed.”

In pre-pandemic days, less than half of online property views on Realtor.com came from out-of-market home shoppers. But in the years since, there’s been a dramatic shift.

In 2025, about 61.9% of views came from out-of-towners.

Of the largest 100 housing markets, 87 were driven by out-of-market interest in the fourth quarter of 2025.

To determine its findings, Realtor.com looked at views of listings on its site in the 100 largest metropolitan areas between October and December 2025. (Metros include the main city and surrounding communities.)

Below are the 10 housing markets with the highest percentage of out-of-town shoppers.