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With Memorial Day behind us, the unofficial start to moving season is underway. Families throughout the nation are gearing up to pack their bags and venture to a new city before Labor Day.
Texas made a big appearance on the list, with Houston ranking first for the seventh consecutive year in a row. San Antonio and Austin also made the top five, ranking in at fourth and fifth, respectively. Since 2014, Austin climbed up the rankings by three positions. Northern neighbor Dallas came in at the 17th spot.
“Houston continues to be an extremely busy location for U-Haul equipment entering and leaving the city, especially during the summer months as families plan their moves with the kids out of school,” Matt Merrill, U-Haul Company of West Houston president, said in a statement. Merrill said U-Haul now has four marketing company offices serving the Greater Houston area in order to meet increasing demands.
Despite the West Coast’s trendy reputation for movers, the Midwest and East Coast were both represented well, with Chicago and Orlando placing second and third on the list.
The U-Haul survey did not include rental trucks exiting cities.
Will Houston fall with oil prices?
Even with the oil fallout in Texas, home prices are still rising. Demand in the market fell dramatically at the start of fall last year, but it began to pick itself back up in the first few months of 2016. According to Altos Research, the median-single family home value in Houston has been consistently on the rise since last November. As of May 20, the median home price is $387,734.
Home sellers are still in demand, which is key for a strong real estate market. Altos Research’s Market Action Index uses 30 as the neutral value to determine whether homebuyers or sellers are in control of the market. While figures haven’t surpassed 30 significantly, they have been consistently above 30 and into seller territory.
Oil prices may have an impact on the overall economy in Houston, but there doesn’t seem to be a major influence on the local housing market just yet.
