Austin is no longer the must-move destination it was five years ago. A new forecast from moveBuddha shows a 40 percent drop in move interest since 2019, one of the steepest declines among large American cities. The report analyzed searches for potential movers across 79 cities over the past five years. Using that data, the study predicts Austin will reach an in-to-out move ratio of 0.95 in 2026, meaning more people are expected to leave the city than arrive next year.
Austin spent most of the past decade attracting newcomers at a rapid clip. The study notes it only dipped into negative inflow twice in the last five years and both instances occurred in late 2023. The 2026 projection signals a real shift. Austin is expected to spend the entire year with outbound searches outweighing inbound ones.
Researchers point to softer housing demand and longer listing times as signs the city’s once hot market is now cooling. They describe Austin’s real estate landscape as “sagging under price reductions” and say that change may be contributing to lower moving interest…