LONG-DISTANCE MOVERS: WHY THEY MOVED, AND HOW THEY FOUND NEW HOMES

August 7, 2023

By Dr. Jessica Lautz

Most of us know someone who has moved to a different state or area in the last few years. Maybe you have friends who text photos of their new pet chickens, send frustrated messages about bad WiFi, or experience beautiful landscapes they couldn’t enjoy in city-center apartments. This article explores the movers—the reasons they moved, how their search went and how they ultimately purchased their homes.

The median distance moved by recent buyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) 2022 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, was 50 miles, but many of those buyers moved much further from their previous home. One-quarter moved at least 470 miles to find their new home. This is a marked change from the years before the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1989 to 2021, the median distance moved was just 10 to 15 miles.

While buyers overall made a typical move of 50 miles, by generation there are variations. Younger baby boomers (born 1955 – 1964) moved the longest distance at a median of 90 miles. Older baby boomers (born 1946 – 1954) moved a median of 50 miles. Millennials tended to stay the closest to their past residences, moving just 15 miles. See More

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