A recent analysis by News Corporation reveals a significant shift in home shopping behavior, with 58.9% of online home shoppers in the 100 largest U.S. metros seeking properties outside their current metro areas during the second quarter of 2025. This marks an increase from 48.1% in 2019, driven largely by affordability concerns, evolving workplace policies, and lifestyle aspirations. San Jose, California, experienced the highest outbound search traffic, with 93.7% of shoppers exploring listings in other areas, followed by Washington D.C. and Seattle. The report highlights a growing trend of Americans looking beyond their current locales to stretch their dollars and enhance their living conditions. While Portland, San Francisco, and Houston have gained popularity, cities like McAllen, Phoenix, and Spokane have seen declines. Despite a year-over-year reduction in the pace of home searches, the overall trend of seeking homes outside metro areas has surged nearly 11 percentage points since 2019, underscoring the ongoing challenges of affordability in big cities.