A new Realtor.com report highlights that Americans are increasingly searching for new homes outside their local markets, with Florida emerging as the top destination for out-of-town shoppers interested in new construction properties [1]. In the second quarter, Lakeland, Florida, led the nation with more than 83% of new-construction listing views coming from out-of-town shoppers, followed closely by Cape Coral (82.4%), Port St. Lucie (80.9%), and North Port (80.5%) [1]. Durham, North Carolina, was the only non-Florida metro in the top five, with 80.2% of views from out-of-metro shoppers [1].
Nationwide, 67.2% of new-construction listing views originated from out-of-metro shoppers, compared to 65.4% for existing-home listings, indicating a broader trend of buyers looking beyond their immediate areas for new homes [1]. Other markets drawing significant out-of-market interest include Deltona, Florida; Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina; Stockton, California; and Augusta, Georgia [1].
Affordability and the appeal of the Sun Belt lifestyle are cited as major factors driving this migration, according to Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner [1]. The report notes substantial differences in median new-construction listing prices, with Lakeland's median at $315,821 in the second quarter, compared to $1,946,685 in Miami [1]. Many shoppers viewing Lakeland homes were from Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, while Cape Coral attracted interest from Miami, New York City, and Chicago [1].
Builders in these high-demand markets are offering incentives such as closing-cost assistance and mortgage-rate buy-downs to attract buyers, according to Brian Stephens, a real estate agent with eXp Realty in Lakeland [1]. Nationally, the median asking price for a newly built home was $450,256 in the second quarter, representing a slight decrease of 0.1% from the previous year [1].
CONCLUSION
Florida continues to dominate as the preferred destination for out-of-town buyers seeking new homes, driven by affordability and lifestyle factors. Builders are responding with competitive pricing and buyer incentives, while national new-construction prices remain relatively stable. This trend underscores the ongoing shift in homebuyer preferences toward more affordable and attractive markets.