Why are People on the Move this Year

Young guy with ponytail packing boxes

You might be asking yourself if you are ready for the next move. If so, you are not alone! The last year of sheltering in place has driven Americans to reconsider their home needs, and many have discovered that their current homes just won’t due anymore.

According to the 2020 Annual National Movers Study:

Having low inventory in the housing market isn’t new, but it’s becoming more challenging than before to navigate. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explains:

“For customers who cited COVID-19 as an influence on their move in 2020, the top reasons associated with COVID-19 were concerns for personal and family health and wellbeing (60%); desires to be closer to family (59%); 57% moved due to changes in employment status or work arrangement (including the ability to work remotely); and 53% desired a lifestyle change or improvement of quality of life.”

As we view homeownership from a different angle, we have listed a few reasons why people are reconsidering where they live, what they need in a home, and making a move.

1. Outdoor Space

The latest outdoor living trends were recently released by Better Homes & Gardens. We have listed three of them below:

- Multipurpose Furniture: Many homeowners are choosing versatile patio furniture that works for every-day life and outdoor gatherings. What’s not to love about modular tables that can also be pulled apart for seating?
- Social Front Yards: Do you love to have social gatherings? If so, you can create an outdoor living space in front of your home.
- Outdoor Technology: If you see yourself spending a lot of time in your yard, having an outdoor movie theater or Wi-Fi boosters outside might be perfect for you!

2. Working From Home

Thanks to the pandemic, working from home is the new norm. Some companies have made the decision to stay remote. In this case, people are finding that they don’t have to live so close to their office, and they can get a larger home for less money if they move outside of the city limits. Apartment List mentions that those remote employees are more likely to move than on-site employees:

“The COVID pandemic has sparked a rebound in residential migration: survey data suggest that 16 percent of American workers moved between April 2020 and April 2021, up from 14 percent in 2019 and the first increase in migration in over a decade… One of the major drivers in this trend is remote work, which expanded greatly in response to COVID and will remain prevalent even after the pandemic wanes. No longer tethered to a physical job site, remote workers were 53 percent more likely to move this past year than on-site workers.”

Over the last year, did you find yourself turning the guest bedroom or kitchen table into your home office? If so, it might be time for you to find a larger home that suits your new lifestyle.

3. Room for Fitness and Activities

Being healthy and active has become a high priority to many people over the past year. Which makes having a home gym a dream and even a necessity to many, especially during the height of the pandemic when gyms were on total lockdown. A recent survey of 4,538 active adults from 122 countries noted the three fastest-growing fitness trends amongst active adults are:

At-home fitness equipment (up 50%)
Personal trainers/nutritionists (up 48%)
Online fitness courses, classes, and subscriptions (up 17%)

You might find yourself moving into a larger home so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Bottom Line For Homebuyers

Over the last year, you might have found yourself looking for a larger home to accommodate your new lifestyle. This could be because you are working from home and don’t have room for a home office, or you want more outdoor space. If you’re ready to take the next steps to finding the home of your (new) dreams, connect with our team today!