HOUSTON – (By Dale King, Realty News Report) – Country Homes: Coronavirus Spurs Massive Interest
During the COVID-19 pandemic, homes in rural areas have seen a dramatic increase in online interest from prospective buyers, according to data collected by real estate brokerage Redfin. The trend reflects a growing appetite for properties outside large metropolitan centers as people reassess where and how they want to live.
Redfin reports that page views for listings in small towns—defined as communities with populations under 50,000—jumped 105 percent year-over-year for the seven-day period ending May 1, 2020. That gain accelerated from an 85 percent year-over-year increase for the week ending April 1, 2020, indicating sustained and growing curiosity about small-town living.
One of the most-viewed listings on Redfin in April was a remote woodland home in a tiny Illinois village about 67 miles southwest of Chicago. Featuring a wood-burning stove and a natural spring on the property, the house exemplified an emerging migration pattern during the outbreak: a shift toward more rural and small-town settings.
“Americans are shopping for homes in small towns at an exceptionally higher rate than they were last year and even last month, far eclipsing the modest recovery occurring in cities as the coronavirus pandemic drags on,” the Redfin study states. “And while sales have slowed everywhere, they haven’t suffered quite as much in small-town America—at least not yet.”
Redfin lead economist Taylor Marr observed that interest in rural areas soared early in the pandemic while searches for urban homes declined. “Many city dwellers started imagining packing up and heading for the hills,” Marr said. “Some of that initial rural surge proved to be temporary, but interest in small towns appears more sustainable. Small towns can be a realistic option for people who plan to work primarily from home or commute to an office once or twice a week.”
At the same time, metro areas with populations of at least one million also saw increased activity: inquiries rose 16 percent the week ending May 1, 2020. That represents a rebound from a 13 percent decline the month before, but the growth in large metros remains slower than in small towns and rural areas.
The movement toward greener surroundings shows up in sales data as well. While pending home sales declined nationwide, less-populous regions experienced smaller drops compared with major metro areas. For the week ending May 1, pending sales in urban metro areas fell about 39 percent year-over-year, while small towns saw a smaller decline of roughly 25 percent.
Redfin’s report does not provide a community-by-community breakdown, but it includes information on Houston neighborhoods that might interest buyers considering a small-town lifestyle within driving distance of the city. Greater Houston, with a population exceeding seven million, requires some travel to reach genuinely rural surroundings, but options do exist for those seeking less density.
“Houston is a sprawling city covering roughly 600 square miles with 2,112,810 residents,” the report notes. The region is largely car-dependent, though several neighborhoods are more pedestrian-friendly. Downtown offers pedestrians protection from weather with seven miles of tunnels and skywalks that connect buildings, and METRO rail links downtown to the Texas Medical Center. Montrose and the Museum District are cited as very walkable neighborhoods within the city.
On the national level, home sales showed early signs of recovery as the market adjusted to pandemic conditions. During the week ending May 1, a total of 40,952 homes were under contract nationwide, a 35 percent decrease from the same period in 2019. That decline was an improvement from the 41.7 percent drop reported in mid-April, suggesting gradual stabilization as buyers and sellers adapt.