on the move

Houston was a top-3 U.S. destination for movers in 2025, U-Haul says

Houston attracted more newcomers than almost all other U.S. metros in 2025.

Houston attracted more newcomers than nearly all other U.S. metros in 2025, according to a new migration report from U-Haul.

The Houston metro ranked No. 2 nationally in U-Haul's annual list of the top destinations for people on the move in 2025.

U-Haul's annual Top U.S. Growth Metros and Cities report is based on how many one-way transactions were made by do-it-yourself movers using a U-Haul truck, trailer, or U-Box moving container across the U.S. and Canada. According to the study's methodology, more than 2.5 million one-way moves took place in North America in 2025.

Houston ranked just one spot behind No.1-winner Dallas-Fort Worth, and the metro last ranked No. 9 in the 2024 migration report.

Additionally, Texas reclaimed the No. 1 spot as U-Haul's Top Growth State in 2025, which was held by South Carolina in 2024.

"U-Haul customers arriving in Texas accounted for 50.7 percent of all one-way traffic in and out of the state last year (49.3 percent leaving)," the report said. "Compared to 2024, customers coming to Texas rose 3 percent [year-over-year] while departures rose just 1 percent [year-over-year]."

Austin appeared behind Dallas and Houston to round out the top three U.S. growth metros for 2025. In 2024, Austin ranked as the No. 5 most-moved-to destination nationwide.

The far-flung Houston suburb Conroe ranked No. 20 in U-Haul's separate list of the top growth cities for 2025, after previously ranking 16th nationally in 2023.

"We continue to find that life circumstances — marriage, children, a death in the family, college, jobs and other events — dictate the need for most moves," said U-Haul International president John "J.T." Taylor. "But other factors can be important to people who are looking to change their surroundings. In-migration states are often appealing to those customers."

The top 10 growth metros in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
No. 2 – Houston, Texas
No. 3 – Austin, Texas
No. 4 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 5 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 6 – Nashville, Tennessee
No. 7 – Charleston, South Carolina
No. 8 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 – Brownsville & McAllen, Texas

moving population growth population reports houston

spring homebuying season

The best time to sell a house in Houston is coming in April, experts say

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The best window for Houstonians to sell their home is coming up on April 12.

Houstonans that are considering selling their home have the perfect opportunity coming up in April, according to a new housing report from Realtor.com.

The real estate experts said the week of April 12-18 will offer sellers the best combination of strong and stable housing prices, buyer interest, and a competitive market.

Based on historical market data, homes listings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro are expected to receive 17.5 percent more views during the week of April 12 compared to the average week, and homes may spend seven fewer days on the market compared to the average. This surge in demand will also affect housing prices in the area. Homes put on the market during this window are expected to list for $19,000 higher than what they were listed at the start of the year, or 5.4 percent more.

"After years of being squeezed by limited inventory and high rates, the 2026 housing market is starting to feel more approachable for those who have been sidelined," said Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale.

In general, experts predict homebuyers will start "re-engaging" with the housing market now that mortgage rates stabilized in late 2025. National commercial banker U.S. Bank said the current 30-year fixed mortgage rate is roughly 6.38 percent.

"For sellers, the mid-April window represents an opportunity to enter a market that feels more within reach for buyers while benefiting from a seasonal advantage in terms of pricing and competition," Hale said.

Residential homes in the Houston area had a median price of $322,078 in February, the Houston Association of Realtors said in its latest report, and prices are down 0.9 percent year-over-year.

Two more Texas metros – Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth – are expected to follow Houston with the same April 12 window as the best time for residents to sell their homes. In San Antonio, the best time for owners to sell their homes will begin on April 19.

Senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones warned some home sellers in Southern metros might "face softer conditions" due to an abundance of inventory.

"In those metros, optimizing timing to this early spring window is even more critical to differentiate a property from the growing competition," she said.

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