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

In 87 of the 100 largest U.S. metros, over 60% of home search views come from out-of-town buyers, up from 48.6% in 2019, indicating a shift in demand. The South leads with 64.6% non-local interest, followed by the West at 61.7%. Only 13 metros remain dominated by local buyers, though local engagement is declining everywhere. Cities with AI job growth and data center expansions, like San Francisco and Philadelphia, see the largest rise in remote buyer interest.