Remote work and remote schooling have transformed the way many Americans are thinking about what they want from a home and neighborhood. New doors have opened for many to explore new areas, upgrade to larger spaces, or resize to accommodate changing needs at home.
William Thomas, his wife and four children owned a home in Georgia but were frequently traveling through the country via RV when they decided they were ready for a lifestyle change. With William working and the kids going to school from home, they were ready to find a newer and larger space with amenities that met all their needs. Most importantly, the Thomas family wanted to put down more permanent roots where they could age in place as their kids got older.
William and his wife found their forever home in a suburb outside Atlanta. They decided to sell and buy their new home, all with Opendoor.
“Moving while working full time with four kids is stressful enough without being in an incredibly competitive real estate market,” said William. “Opendoor made both the selling and buying process truly seamless – even through the pandemic! We were even able to reduce our out of pocket closing costs by completing the entire transaction with Opendoor. We couldn’t be happier now that we’re in our forever home.”
The Thomas family are one of millions who moved in 2021. We took a look at the hottest neighborhoods across Opendoor markets in the U.S. to see where people were buying homes last year:
One of the commonalities in this top 10 list? A warm climate. From Tennessee to Texas to Georgia to San Diego, Americans are relocating for a number of reasons—and enjoying comfortable weather is one of the perks.
Thinking about making a move in 2022? Whether you’re considering one of the above trending neighborhoods or another location, here are a few things to consider:
• Search smart, not hard. The best way to do this is to make sure you’re as informed as possible before you start. Spend time determining important factors, like how much you can afford and where you want to live. Figuring these things out before you start your search will help you narrow down your search criteria and avoid spending time looking at homes that aren’t a fit for you.
Take advantage of virtual tour options, like interactive maps or video walk-throughs, so you can avoid extra time spent driving to open houses or in-person tours.
• Define your non-negotiables. These are the things you just can’t live without. Think distance from work, distance from a parent, or within boundaries of a certain school district. Get in your car and drive so that you can opt-in and out of certain neighborhoods altogether—this will make searching more bespoke for your specific location needs and wants.
Whatever your new zip code might be, we hope you’ll turn to Opendoor in 2022 to make that move. Download the Opendoor app to begin searching for homes and see how we can help you save time and money in finding the home of your dreams.
Methodology: Top ZIP codes are identified by analyzing data from the local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) where Opendoor Brokerages operate. ZIPs were ranked by total homes which went into contract within 90 days of listing in 2021.