Georgia is Fifth Best State to List Properties & Rentals, New Study Reveals

Journo Research

Wednesday, March 20th, 2024

  • A new study has identified where properties and rentals will receive the most interest based on where is keenest to move house, with Georgia ranking fifth.

  • The study analyzed Google searches around property and rental sites to reveal the top states to list properties and rentals.

  • The research revealed March is the best time of the year to put your home on the market or start renting.

  • An expert shares their advice on the benefits of using a storage unit to make your move run as smoothly as possible.

New research has revealed which states are searching the most for a new home, with Georgia placing fifth.

The research, pulled together by online self-storage finder Storage.com analyzed nationwide and regional Google searches for keywords related to real-estate sites such as Zillow and Trulia, over the last 12 months, to identify what states have the biggest interest in moving.

These searches were then compared against local populations to identify where reported the highest desire.  

Although the added financial pressure caused by the current economic situation might put some off moving, for others it might motivate them to take the plunge. A huge 476,050,700 Google searches were made for property and rental sites last year across the US. 

While the driving factor for this interest is unclear, it could reflect tenants’ desire for cheaper rent as landlords hike up fees, or the urge to get onto the property ladder.  

Whatever the reason, properties and rentals are the fifth most in demand in Georgia. The state averaged 13,107 searches per 100,000 residents, which is 10% above the national average of 11,869 searches per 100,000 residents.

Colorado is the state most wanting to uproot, with 14,414 searches per 100,000 people – a fifth (21%) higher than the national average.

In second is Florida, which is 18% above at 13,985 searches per 100,000 people, while Arizona is third at 13,782 searches per 100,000 - 16% higher than the US average.

The top states to list properties and rentals

Rank

State

Average monthly searches per 100,000 people

1.

Colorado

14,414

2.

Florida

13,985

3.

Arizona

13,782

4.

Michigan

13,153

5.

Georgia

13,107

6.

Washington

12,892

7.

Virginia

12,863

8.

Massachusetts

12,550

9.

Ohio

12,354

10.

North Carolina

12,339

Meanwhile, Alaska sellers and landlords may experience fewer viewings, as residents are looking for new homes the least, with only 6,025 searches per 100,000 people, which is 49% lower than the national average. 

Behind Alaska, Hawaii has the second-least interest in moving, as people search for real-estate websites 46% less than the average person, with 6,438 searches per 100,000 people. 

Closely following in third is Mississippi with 6,671 monthly searches – which is 44% below the national average.

The worst states to list properties and rentals

Rank

State

Average monthly searches per 100,000 people

1.

Alaska

6,025

2.

Hawaii

6,438

3.

Mississippi

6,671

4.

Montana

6,701

5.

Louisiana

7,060

6.

Wyoming

7,548

7.

West Virginia

7,768

8.

North Dakota

7,774

9.

Arkansas

7,811

10.

New Mexico

8,348

As well as naming the states where properties and rentals will receive the highest and lowest levels of interest,the study also revealed the time of year that is best to list them.

Searches around real-estate websites peaked in March last year, with a total of 44,698,660 - 13% more than the monthly average of 39,670,892.

This indicates this is when sellers and renters should list their properties, as demand for new homes could rise again this year.

Enthusiasm around moving dropped as 2023 came to a close, with searches falling 20% below the monthly average in December to 31,662,730. Americans didn't appear eager to change homes in November either, as the month recorded the second-lowest volume at 33,623,290.

This is perhaps because the excitement of the festivities drew attention away from searching for somewhere new to live, suggesting sellers and landlords will have the worst luck if they list during the holiday period.

The next most popular month is July at 44,097,760 - 11% above the monthly average - followed by August at 43,828,170, so owners are best off advertising their properties sooner rather than later if they want a deal underway, otherwise they may have to wait until the next rush in summer.

Commenting on the findings, Chuck Gordon, CEO of Storable, the parent company of Storage.com, says: “Now that Americans are starting to recover after a tight January and February, it’s likely those that were home hunting beforehand will return to it – and many others may start looking too if they set moving as a goal for 2024. 

“If the trend observed last year repeats itself, prospective homeowners are going to increase their research for potential homes in March, so there’s not too much time for sellers and landlords to get their properties up to scratch and capitalize on the demand. 

“Finding the right place to live can seem like the biggest challenge of the process at the time, however, it’s only the first hurdle. While it’s near impossible to remove all stress from a move, beginning packing as soon as things are in motion can seriously ease the headache. 

“You’ll be surprised how quickly time can creep up on you, and suddenly, you still have most of your house to pack. However, it can take weeks upon weeks before you receive a moving date, sometimes even months, and living among boxes can add to the sense of chaos. If you can, use a storage unit to hold non-essential items. 

“That way, there’s less loading and unloading to do on the big day. You can unpack and set up everything you need to use immediately, then add in the extras at your own pace, finding the right spot for them rather than just shoving them anywhere in a rush to feel sorted.”