According to Reliance Relocation Services, Inc., RELO®, a large network of independent residential real estate firms otherwise known as RELO®, the hottest relocation destinations in the country in descending order are:

• Washington, D.C.

• Jupiter, FL

• Atlanta, GA

• Chicago, IL

• Dallas, TX

• Raleigh, NC

• Charlotte, NC

• Houston, TX

• Tampa, FL

• New York, NY

These findings are based on broker-to-broker referrals sent through RELO's network of 4,700 offices and 110,000 sales associates in 2004, which handled over 50,000 relocations from city to city in 2004.

RELO's business is comprised of corporate-sponsored transferees as well as "discretionary" moves which can range from individuals searching for a better job market, to second-home buyers and retirees, to those who can work virtually from anywhere and are focused solely on lifestyle, says the company.

"Therefore, the popularity of these cities is due to many factors, including affordability, amenities, schools, job market, technology infrastructure, accessibility, and other attractions," says Pam O'Connor, CEO of RELO.

RELO participants explain the results.

One factor placing Washington, DC, at the top of the list, is that it's the seat of government, which by definition, is transient. Also, it's home to to three Fortune 500 companies. The White House itself turns over every four or eight years. Housing is pricey at $412,965 for an average home, and the cost-of-living index is at 147, higher than the U.S. average of 100.

Jupiter, surprised some, but RELO says it is appealing because it still offers affordable property in Palm Beach County coupled with a sunny climate and numerous recreational amenities.

Atlanta, makes the list because it offers an attractive quality of life and expanding Fortune 500 companies, including Home Depot, UPS and Coca-Cola. The average home is $314,353, and the cost-of-living index is 109. Ladies Home Journal has rated Atlanta 34 out of 200 as one of the best cities for women.

Chicago, welcomes a large number of new residents in spite of an average commute of 61.5 minutes, compared to a national average of 49.8 minutes. Part of the draw are the 11 Fortune 500 firms headquartered in, or around, the Windy City. A typical home is expensive at $354,006.

Dallas, with seven Fortune 500 companies, is a more affordable metropolis where a typical home runs $253,485, and the cost-of-living index is 103. Ladies Home Journal has ranked Dallas 44 out of 200, among cities that are best for women.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, the average home price is $259,703; the cost-of-living index is 103, and there is one Fortune 500 firm. The area is an educational hub with several highly-regarded learning institutions.

Charlotte is on the list with a cost-of-living index of 101. A typical home is $264,621. Charlotte is home to seven Fortune 500 firms and is becoming the banking capital of the country.

Houston is the 'bargain' city on the list. A typical home is $289,810, and there are a whopping 17 Fortune 500 firms that could spur relocation activity.

In Tampa, a corporate-level home is still affordable at $261,651 but may be going up with the announcement of Donald Trump's 52-story luxury condominium tower, with units priced from $700,000 to over $6 million.

Relocation to New York City requires a hefty cost-of-living supplement, since a typical home is $851,937, and the cost-of-living index is 233!

"One can't talk about company relocations without looking at the ever-expanding suburbs, where home prices rise as fast as people arrive," said O'Connor. In step with its urban hub, Washington, DC, Fairfax leads the suburbs in terms of relocation activity. Fairfax is followed by Longwood, FL; Parsippany, NJ; Bothell, WA, and Overland Park, KS. Longwood is a northern suburb of Orlando, with good transportation access, affordable homes, and many nearby lakes. Parsippany, home to many corporate office parks, reflects the growth of the New Jersey suburbs post-9/11. Bothell is a Seattle suburb fueled by the growth in the tech sector, and Overland Park, in suburban Kansas City, continues to be a crossroads for affordable homes, good family values, and a charming boutique shopping area, she says.

Top Five Up-and-Coming Cities

"An executive looking for value can find a nice quality of life in one of the up-and-coming relocation cities," notes O'Connor.

A typical corporate-level home in Greensboro, NC goes for $227,935, the cost-of-living index is 99, and there are two Fortune 500 firms.

In Wichita, KS, the same home is $183,418, and taxes are the 29th lowest in the U.S.

In Grand Rapids, MI, with two Fortune 500 companies, a typical home costs $176,564.

A home in Virginia Beach, VA where taxes are the ninth lowest in the US, costs $257,298, and the cost-of-living index is 108.

In Albuquerque, home to Sun Healthcare, a home is $189,197.

It comes as no surprise that cities in California do not make any of the lists.

"Employees who job hunt in California get sticker shock really fast," said Arden Hjelm, a RELO® relocation specialist and vice president of Young Realtors in Westlake Village, 50 miles north of Los Angeles. "The average sale price of a home here is $650,000," she says. "$400,000 will buy you an 800 square-foot pad."

"Our numbers are a good cross section of all moves," says O'Connor. "It's a retail look at the market."

Published: May 4, 2005

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