According to HousingWire, older Americans continue to shape the housing market in significant ways. Baby boomers and Gen X folks together make up a huge portion of home sales activity across the country, with data from the National Association of Realtors showing that boomers accounted for nearly half of all buyers and more than half of all sellers in the year through mid-2025. Gen X also played a meaningful role, representing about a quarter of both buyers and sellers during that same period.
What's interesting is that while most of these older homeowners stay in their local areas when they move, a growing number are making bigger relocations to find better affordability, reconnect with family, or simply enjoy a fresh start in retirement. To understand where these folks are heading, HousingWire looked at data from U-Haul's migration report and analyzed ten major metro areas that are attracting the most inbound moves from boomers and Gen Xers.
The analysis reveals some pretty distinct market conditions across these destination cities. Wilmington, North Carolina, showed the steepest price declines year over year, while Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was one of the few markets seeing meaningful appreciation. The markets studied had varying amounts of inventory available, ranging from tight to more balanced conditions depending on the location. Phoenix, being the largest market in the group, led in sales volume, while Spokane had homes moving off the market most quickly.
The broader picture shows that Southeast and Sun Belt destinations continue to pull in these older movers, and mortgage rates hovering near 6.74% are keeping some pressure on prices while also supporting sales activity in many of these markets. Each location presents different opportunities depending on whether conditions favor buyers looking for negotiation room or sellers looking to capitalize on demand.
What I am seeing locally here in the Bay Area is that these national migration trends underscore why our market remains challenging for some segments. While boomers and Gen X are finding affordable options and faster appreciation in places like the Carolinas and Florida, many of our older homeowners are staying put because they're already established here with family and community. For those who do decide to relocate out of the region, it's often because they're seeking that affordability edge they can't quite find in Fremont or across the East Bay, even as our own market shows resilience.
