While most Americans still follow the long-held pattern of “renting first, buying later” when relocating—especially across state lines—a new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that in some states, most newcomers do the opposite and buy within their first year.
Nationally, just more than 27 percent of interstate movers own a home during their first year after moving, leaving the other nearly 75 percent to search for apartments or other rental options. By comparison, households that move locally—within the same county—are much more likely to buy right away.





