Remote Buyers Drive the Housing Search in America's Fastest-Changing Cities

In 87 of the 100 largest U.S. metros, most home searchers are now out-of-towners, rising from 48.6% in 2019 to 61.9% in late 2025. The South leads with 64.6% non-local interest, followed by the West at 61.7%. Only 13 metros remain local-dominated, but all show declining local engagement. Cities with AI job growth and data center expansions, like San Francisco and Philadelphia, see the largest shifts toward remote buyers.