A recent survey of 500 real-estate agents by Redfin indicates that local laws and politics are increasingly influencing people’s decisions to buy homes.
Around one-third of agents reported clients moving due to state or local laws, particularly related to issues such as gun control, reproductive rights, and tax policies.
The polarization of national politics has led to people preferring to live in areas aligned with their own views.
“State and local laws and politics have also become increasingly important as the nation gets more polarized, with Democrats and Republicans drifting further apart on issues like climate, immigration and education,” Redfin reported.
“State laws differ on partisan issues like abortion and gun control, with many Americans reporting they would prefer to live in a place with laws that align with their own views,” the report added. “On a similar note, many Americans prefer living in a place where their neighbors have similar political views.”
“A record share of homebuyers relocated to a different metro area in 2023. Some of the most common migration routes for homebuyers last year were from blue states to red or purple states: San Francisco to Austin; Seattle to Phoenix; New York to Orlando and other parts of Florida,” the report said.
While affordability and proximity to work and family remain significant factors, the ability to work remotely has allowed more people to consider political preferences and laws when choosing where to live.
The survey also highlighted migration from blue to red or purple states, often driven by affordability.
“I know at least 10 people who have moved away from Texas in the last year, mainly because they don’t agree with state laws,” Redfin agent Andrew Vallejo said. “They all moved to the West Coast, to blue places where the policies align better with their personal views, specifically when it comes to women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights.”
“Many conservative states have policies that attract business-minded residents, like lower taxes and fewer restrictions on companies,” the company said.
“Other people leave blue states for red states to live near people with similar views; for instance, this couple moved from California to Idaho partly because they felt freedom to display a ‘Thin Blue Line’ banner,” the report noted.
Anecdotes from agents revealed instances of families relocating based on political alignment, with some moving to states with policies that resonate with their personal views.
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