Research Reports
Explore data-driven research on real estate, housing, self storage, moving trends and economic forces shaping today’s markets.
Austin’s Self Storage Boom: One-Third Of City’s Inventory Built In Last Decade
Austin is expanding rapidly — and with it, so is the need for extra space. Over the past decade, the city’s self storage sector has been on a major growth spree, adding nearly a third of its total inventory in just 10 years. Today, Austin offers 10 million rentable square feet of self storage, or over seven square feet per person, aligning with the national benchmark.
The 6 Ds Of Self Storage Demand: Widespread Interest Puts The West In The Lead, While The South Comes In Second For Extra Space Needs
Life events continue to drive the U.S. self storage market, with moving, housing affordability, and economic shifts fueling sustained demand. Search interest in self storage has surged 88% since 2020, reaching a record 25 million annual searches in 2024.
Cross-Country Moving Costs: Most Expensive To Cheapest Relocation Routes
An estimated 7.5 million people relocated across state lines in 2023, continuing a long-standing trend driven by housing affordability, job opportunities and lifestyle preferences. While local moves have slowed — from 11.9% of the population in 2014 to 9.1% in 2023 — long-distance relocations remain steady. In fact, interstate moves have consistently involved over 2.3% of the U.S. population each year for most of the past decade, peaking at 2.5% during the pandemic.
US Migration Trends: Texas Overtakes Florida, Becomes The Nation’s Top State For Net Migration
Today’s moving trends seem to be increasingly driven by necessity rather than lifestyle. According to the latest U.S. Census data, Americans are moving less frequently than they used to, with a staggering 87.9% of the population staying in the same home year after year — a notable rise from the 85.1% reported a decade ago. This slower pace of moving seems to be mostly driven by a big drop in local relocations.
Where Love Lasts Most In The U.S.: Happily Ever After Thrives In New England And The Midwest
Valentine’s Day comes and goes in a flurry of roses, heart-shaped chocolates, and candlelit dinners – all of which we indulge in wholeheartedly (pun intended). And we’re not just giving love, we’re spending it too – a record-breaking $27.5 billion is expected to be joyfully poured into Valentine’s Day celebrations this year, according to the National Retail Federation, all in honor of the people we hold dear.
Where Gen Z Is Buying Homes: The Top 10 States for Young Homebuyers in 2025
For the first time ever, Gen Zers are matching Millennials in state-to-state migration numbers, with nearly 2.2 million Gen Zers relocating long-distance in 2023. This generational shift marks a major turning point as young professionals and early-career workers move in search of affordable housing, better job opportunities and a lifestyle that aligns with their values.
StorageCafe’s Best Lifestyle Stories of 2024
The real estate market is often all about numbers and trends, but the way those big-picture stats affect our everyday lives is huge. It’s fascinating to see how we’ve adapted to major events—like the health crisis—and how those changes have influenced our lifestyle and housing choices.
2024 in Review: Arizona Outranks Most States In Real Estate Performance
Arizona, and Phoenix in particular, has delivered a stellar performance in real estate this year. Its resilience following the health crisis, coupled with a vibrant entertainment scene, diverse experiences, and a laid-back culture – all supported by a strong job market – has transformed Phoenix into one of the most sought-after places to live in the U.S.
Behind The Roll-Up Doors: REITs Expand To Own A Third Of The Self Storage Market
What began as a modest family business in a small Texas town has, over the last 60 years, grown into a $20.53 billion industry, boasting over 2 billion square feet of rentable space across the U.S. With demand for space growing amid increasing urbanization trends, rising home prices and evolving storage needs, the self storage sector attracted the attention of institutional investors, gradually minimizing the gap between traditionally owned properties and real estate investment trusts (REITs).