(NewsNation) — When it comes to choosing a new place to call home, more Americans are driven by the allure of pleasant weather than by the prospect of reduced living expenses, as revealed by a recent Redfin survey.
A striking 22% of participants planning to relocate across state lines within the next year cited a milder climate as their primary motivation — topping the list of 29 different reasons presented in the survey.
Concerns about natural disasters and climate risks closely followed, with 21% prioritizing these factors, indicating that while people are drawn to more pleasant weather, they are also vigilant about potential environmental hazards.
Interestingly, the desire for cheaper cost of living landed in sixth place with 18%, while lower home prices came in 10th at 15%, trailing behind considerations like proximity to family and crime rates.
Even with flooding and other climate risks among their top concerns, Florida was the survey’s most commonly cited destination for out-of-state movers, attracting 14% of respondents. Texas (13%) and California (11%) followed.
“Many movers are looking for a location that aligns with their ideal lifestyle, and weather can play a meaningful role in that decision,” said Redfin Economist Yingqi Xu.
That could bode well for the Sunshine State’s housing market, where elevated mortgage rates and a surge in new construction have helped cool home prices in several Florida metros following rapid appreciation during the pandemic.
Redfin noted that many popular warm-weather destinations remain less expensive than major coastal cities. The typical home in Orlando, for example, sells for about $411,000 — roughly half the price of a typical home in New York.
The combination of sunshine and relative affordability helps explain why Florida continues to attract newcomers despite leading the nation in homes for sale.
Redfin found a different set of priorities among Americans planning to move within their current state. Instead of weather, the most commonly cited reasons were wanting more space (29%) and upgrading to a better home or neighborhood (29%).
The findings are based on a Redfin survey conducted by Ipsos in May, which included 284 respondents who planned to move out of their state within the next year and 564 who planned to move within their current state over the same period.
Respondents could choose from 29 possible reasons for moving and could select all that applied.
The 10 most common reasons people are planning to move to a new state
- For better weather: 22%