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It turns out that renters are playing musical chairs across the U.S., but some chairs are way more popular than others. Texans and Carolinians, grab a seat, you're getting all the attention! Meanwhile, single-family rental yields are dipping (time to sharpen those pencils), and New Mexico might want to double-check who's actually covered by home insurance—spoiler alert: a lot of folks aren’t.

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WHERE RENTERS ARE FLOCKING

Story: The 2025 Apartment List Renter Migration Report is out, and it’s official: Americans are still obsessed with the Sunbelt and Mountain West. While overall renter migration slowed a bit last year, folks fleeing California and New York kept their eyes on Texas and the Carolinas, chasing affordability and sunshine. Durham, NC, tops the list of metros pulling in out-of-town renters, with Charleston, SC, close behind. Looks like the Carolinas are the prom queens of the rental scene.

So What? If you're a landlord or investor, this is your nudge to watch the migration data closely. More movers = more demand = potentially higher rents and less vacancy—especially in those Southern gems. But if you're in high-cost states like California or New York? Time to rethink your strategy—your renters may already be eyeing U-Haul reservations.

What’s Next? Monitor whether these migration trends hold as remote work cools off and affordability worsens. Texas, the Carolinas, and the broader Southeast remain the hotspots, but wage competitiveness could shake things up. Also, keep an eagle eye on local rental yields and employment trends.

 Source: Apartment List

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