According to HousingWire and research from NewHomeSource and Zonda, we're seeing a fascinating shift in where Americans are choosing to live. There's a growing trend of older folks, particularly baby boomers, relocating to be near their adult children and grandchildren, a phenomenon the industry is calling the "baby chaser" movement. The data shows that about one in four baby boomers now say they're planning to retire close to their kids or grandkids, and this is driving real migration patterns across the country.
Raleigh, North Carolina topped the 2026 Baby Chaser Index, moving up from third place the year before. The top markets for this trend include Nashville, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Boise, Charleston, Austin, San Antonio, and Atlanta. What these places have in common is they're attracting both younger professionals and families as well as their parents' generation looking to be near them. Raleigh itself added a significant number of households in 2025, demonstrating real momentum in both age groups.
These baby chaser markets succeed because they offer multiple attractions beyond just family proximity. They tend to have solid job markets, good schools, quality healthcare options, and recreational amenities that appeal to multiple generations. Housing affordability has been important too, making it easier for younger buyers to purchase their first homes while allowing their parents to retire comfortably without straining their savings.
What's interesting from a market perspective is that despite the strong population growth in these areas, buyers are actually finding themselves in a more favorable position right now. HousingWire Data shows these markets have increasing inventory levels, homes staying on the market longer than they used to, and price reductions becoming common. This gives relocating families, whether young professionals or older retirees, more room to negotiate and shop carefully rather than make rushed decisions.
The housing costs vary quite a bit across these top ten markets. San Antonio and Houston are among the most affordable, while Boise and Nashville command higher prices. Inventory levels differ significantly too, with Houston and Dallas having particularly large supplies of available homes. For sellers in these markets, the takeaway is clear: you need to price based on what the current market will bear, not on what homes were worth three years ago.
What I'm seeing locally here in the Bay Area and across the East Bay is that we're not experiencing the same baby chaser phenomenon as these southern and mountain markets. Our region continues to be attractive to young professionals because of tech jobs and career opportunities, but the cost of living isn't drawing retirees looking to be near family. If anything, we're seeing the reverse, where some empty-nesters and older buyers are leaving the Bay Area to relocate to more affordable areas where they can afford to help their adult children with down payments or be closer to them without the strain of California prices. This is something worth keeping in mind if you're thinking about your own long-term plans in the region.
