Florida tops Houzeo home searches as Puerto Rico surges

Houzeo’s 2026 Home Buyer Report says Florida drew the most buyer searches on its platform, followed by Texas and North Carolina, while Puerto Rico emerged as a surprise top-10 market. The findings point to continued Sun Belt demand, affordability-driven moves, and growing interest in Puerto Rico among some buyers and investors.

Why it matters: - Houzeo’s search data offers an early read on where buyers are looking, which can signal demand before it shows up in sales totals. - The report points to continued strength across the Sun Belt, plus a notable rise in interest in Puerto Rico. - Affordability remains a major driver of interstate moves, which helps explain the search patterns.

What happened: - Houzeo released its 2026 Home Buyer Report on September 15, 2026. - Florida accounted for one in eight home buyer searches on Houzeo. - Texas and North Carolina followed Florida in the platform’s top-three ranking. - Houzeo’s data team analyzed 1,537 buyer actions from more than 900 users across 51 U.S. states and territories. - Puerto Rico ranked No. 7 nationally in the full dataset, with 31 searches from 25 unique buyers. - Puerto Rico rose to No. 5 in Houzeo’s most recent quarter, covering July through September 2026. - Georgia ranked No. 4 in Houzeo’s search data. - San Antonio was the most-searched city in the dataset, with 11 searches. - Houston added further search volume for Texas.

The details: - Houzeo’s top-three ranking matched the same order seen in U.S. Census Bureau numeric population growth data for 2024–2025. - Opendoor’s 2026 migration analysis estimated that Texas, Florida and North Carolina gained a combined 400,000 net domestic migrants in 2025. - Opendoor’s analysis also estimated 48,000 net domestic migrants to Georgia in 2025. - North Carolina searches were spread across Raleigh, Southport, Thomasville, Mills River and Black Mountain, rather than concentrating in Charlotte. - Buyers created city-by-city comparison collections in the favorites tool. - One South Florida user organized six separate favorites folders across Wellington, Melbourne, Boca Pointe, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach and Coral Springs. - Another user maintained five collections across Houston and Spring, Texas. - Puerto Rico favorites collections included “PR HOMES,” “2026 Puerto Rico CJB,” “cabo rojo home 1” and “puerto rico.” - Puerto Rico’s Act 60 Individual Resident Investor program has drawn attention from certain investors. - A 2026 amendment extended that program through 2055. - The amendment sets a 4% preferential rate on qualifying passive income for applicants who apply on or after January 1, 2027. - Applicants who submit by December 31, 2026 can keep the existing 0% treatment, subject to program requirements. - NAR’s 2025 Profile found that 45% of interstate movers cited affordability as their main reason for relocating, up from 38% in 2022. - Houzeo says the full report includes methodology, limitations and 21 cited industry sources. - Houzeo says its platform has more than 1.7 million active listings nationwide. - The company says its mobile app carries a 4.8-star rating and lets shoppers browse homes, save favorites, book tours and submit offers online. - Houzeo provided contact details, including Jai Chavan and a phone number, along with social media links. - The source includes Houzeo’s 2026 Home Buyer Report, but the press release does not provide a direct report URL.

Between the lines: - Florida, Texas and North Carolina appear to be benefiting from the same population and migration forces that are reshaping housing demand nationwide. - Puerto Rico’s jump suggests buyer interest is widening beyond the usual mainland hotspots, especially among users tracking investor-friendly tax rules. - The strong showing for secondary and smaller North Carolina markets suggests buyers may be looking beyond the largest metro areas for affordability and availability.

What’s next: - Houzeo’s report suggests Sun Belt demand and Puerto Rico interest could keep building if affordability stays tight in higher-cost markets. - Puerto Rico’s tax deadline at the end of 2026 could pull forward interest from applicants seeking the current 0% treatment. - Future migration and search data will show whether the current patterns become longer-term buying behavior.

The bottom line: - Houzeo’s data says the housing search map still tilts toward the Sun Belt, but Puerto Rico is now on the radar in a way that could matter for both movers and investors.