Redfin tracks uptick in Californians and New Yorkers moving out and to less expensive states

California and New York had the biggest upticks in people looking to move out of state since last year, followed by Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Illinois, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.

Nearly 53,000 more Redfin.com users looked to move out of California than into it in the third quarter, a 62% increase since the third quarter of 2019 and the highest rate since Redfin started tracking migration in the beginning of 2017. In New York, almost 47,000 more Redfin.com users looked to leave the state than move in during the third quarter, roughly 35% more than the 35,000 home searchers looking to leave during the same time period last year.

“New York’s loss is Florida’s gain,” said Redfin economist Taylor Marr. “When the pandemic hit the U.S. in March, remote workers started leaving New York City and its ultra-expensive housing in search of wide-open spaces, sunshine and affordable homes—all of which you can find in Florida, with the bonus of no state income tax. The trend has only intensified as the pandemic continues and people feel more certain of their remote work and school plans.”

Nearly 22,000 more Redfin.com users looked to move into Florida than out in the third quarter, almost twice as many entrants as the third quarter of 2019 and the highest net inflow for the state since Redfin started tracking migration. Movement into Florida has accelerated since the beginning of the year.

Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina and Nevada saw the biggest increases in people looking to move in—minus people looking to move away—since last year.

The uptick in people leaving California and New York could impact the political makeup of their destination states. For instance, wealthy retirees moving from New York to Florida may be contributing to an increase in registered Republicans in the Sunshine State, and remote workers leaving California could be a factor in the uptick in registered Democrats in Arizona.

To read the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit:
https://www.redfin.com/news/migration-trends-pandemic-new-york-california.