Research Reports
Explore data-driven research on real estate, housing, self storage, moving trends and economic forces shaping today’s markets.
Best Places To Retire: Top U.S. Metros For Golden-Year Quality Of Life
When the hair turns silver and the years turn golden, priorities begin to shift — especially when searching for the best places to retire. Choosing where to spend your next chapter isn’t just about palm trees or proximity to a golf course anymore — it’s about peace of mind. Today’s retirees are looking for something deeper: financial resilience, reliable healthcare, and a sense of purpose that keeps life rich and rewarding. But as America ages, a question looms — are our cities ready for this new wave of retirees?
Capitals Of Manufactured Housing In 2025: Mesa, AZ, And Largo, FL, Lead America’s Mobile Housing Movement
With costs at half the value of a standard home, manufactured housing remains a cornerstone of affordability in the U.S. While generally widespread across the US, its footprint is uneven, with some areas much better equipped than others to respond to the need for more diverse housing options.
How Much Could You Save By Downsizing Your Home? Southern Cities Offer the Best Chances For Big Gains
Downsizing in 2025 is less about giving up space and more about regaining financial control amid rising housing costs. The trend is especially relevant for empty nesters and retirees, a group that now numbers over 61 million people – up from 12.4% of the population in 2004 to 18% in 2024. As affordability pressures mount nationwide, many baby boomers are seeking homes that are easier to maintain and better suited for aging in place.
Where Self Storage Boomed In 2025: The Sunbelt Pulls Ahead As Atlanta And Phoenix Top The Nation In New Supply
Self storage is operating in a mode of cautious optimism. After a pandemic-era construction surge that pushed several markets into oversupply, development activity pulled back in 2025 as builders focused on restoring balance between supply and demand. New deliveries totaled 51 million square feet of rentable space in 2025, marking a 21% decline from 2024 and signaling a deliberate recalibration rather than a retreat.
Self Storage Sales Reach Nearly $1.6B In Q3 2025 As Transaction Activity Jumps By 62% Compared To Previous Year
Self storage investment activity picked up pace during the third quarter of 2025, signaling stronger confidence among both private and institutional buyers. The total value of assets that changed hands reached $1.6 billion, compared to $988 million a year earlier, representing a massive increase of 62%. Over 260 facilities changed hands during the quarter, up 32% from Q3 2024 transactions. The amount of space traded also increased by 44% to 18.4 million square feet.
Tennessee Migration Trends: Knox County Leads In Net Newcomers
Tennessee remains one of the country’s strongest magnets for interstate migration. In 2023, the state added nearly 52,000 more residents than it lost, with Millennials (28%) and Gen Z (25%) driving much of the movement. A small group of counties pulled in most of the momentum — places with expanding job markets, university influence, outdoor access or simply prices that still feel attainable. These regions are shaping where Tennessee is headed next, whether we’re talking about absorbing metro spillover.
Top 10 Georgia Counties For Net Migration – And Who’s Moving There
Georgia is one of the nation’s top destinations for movers. In 2023 alone, the state welcomed about 47,000 new residents, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. Much of this growth is driven by Millennials and Gen Z, who are arriving in large numbers from states like Florida, Texas, and California.
Car-Optional: Minneapolis And Miami Top The Best Walk & Ride Cities As U.S. Urban Living Gets Reimagined
Today, the most valuable commodity is time, and many U.S. cities are striving to deliver. After decades when sprawling suburbs reigned supreme and downtowns were seen mainly as business districts or tourist stops, urban life is being redefined. Increasingly, convenience means proximity – being close to the essentials that make daily life livable – without relying on a car.
Indiana On The Rise: Gen Z Drives A New Migration Wave To The Hoosier State
Indiana is quietly turning heads – and turning into one of the nation’s hottest relocation destinations. Ranked 7th in the U.S. for net migration in 2023, the Hoosier State welcomed 377,000 new residents while 367,000 moved away. That adds up to a net gain of roughly 10,000 people a year – or about 27 new Hoosiers every day, according to the latest U.S. migration data.
How Self Storage Facilities Stay Competitive In A Saturated Market: Self Storage Marketing Ideas For 2026
The U.S. self storage industry has entered a new stage of maturity. With more than 2.1 billion square feet of rentable self storage space nationwide and new facilities opening in nearly every metro, competition is fierce, and smart self storage marketing tactics often make the difference.
South Carolina Wins Over Gen Zers: Young Adults Lead Migration Wave To The Palmetto State
South Carolina continues to shine as a relocation hotspot, ranking among the top five most popular states to move to, based on net migration numbers. In 2023, the state welcomed roughly 336,000 new residents while 270,000 left, resulting in a net gain of about 66,000 people. This translates to around 166 newcomers per day, according to our latest analysis of U.S. Census data.
Q2 2025 Self Storage Sales Hit $755M As Prices Jump 19%
The self storage sector held its ground in Q2 2025, even as deal pipelines narrowed. Despite higher borrowing costs and tighter credit conditions, self storage continues to prove resilient as an “all-weather” asset class. The market’s trajectory is less about rapid expansion and more about precision — capital is flowing into dense urban infill locations with high replacement barriers and into fast-growing suburbs where household formation consistently outpaces new supply. These dynamics are helping sustain occupancy, reinforce pricing power, and support disciplined cap rates.