These 5 cities have the highest demand in the country among out-of-staters — thanks to affordability and jobs

It started as a pandemic-era trend, but it’s showing no signs of slowing down: American heartland cities are drawing young professionals and families seeking a mix of relative affordability and ample job opportunities.

Realtor.com® researchers looked at cross-market housing data for the third quarter of 2025 to identify heartland markets that attracted the most interest from home shoppers.

Five metros scattered across the Midwest and South stood out for recording the strongest out-of-market buyer demand: Grand Rapids, MI ; Nashville, TN ; Oklahoma City ; Austin, TX , and Birmingham, AL .

“One of the primary drivers is affordable housing, which has become even more attractive amid today’s high home prices and elevated mortgage rates,” says Realtor.com economist Jia