Can you guess what state people are coming to CA from???

WHO’S MOVING TO RIVERSIDE COUNTY? WHAT ZILLOW SEARCH DATA SAYS ABOUT TEMECULA’S NEWEST NEIGHBORS

If it feels like every other person you meet at the Promenade or in Old Town just moved here from somewhere else, you’re not imagining it. Zillow’s Search Trends data shows where home shoppers browsing Riverside-area listings are actually searching from, and the answer tells a clear story about where Southern California buyers are heading.

WHERE THE SEARCHES ARE COMING FROM

As of September 2026, just 46.6% of page views on Riverside-area for-sale listings came from people who already live here. That means more than half of the people browsing homes in our region are searching from somewhere else.

Here’s where that outside interest comes from:

1. Los Angeles / Orange County: about 27% of all page views
2. Smaller markets outside the nation’s 50 largest metros: 8.6%
3. San Diego: 5.9%
4. Phoenix: 1.5%
5. Las Vegas: 1.1%
6. San Francisco Bay Area: 1.1%
7. Seattle: 0.8%
8. San Jose: 0.7%
9. New York: 0.6%
10. Dallas: 0.6%

Los Angeles and Orange County aren’t just the top source. They account for more page views than the next nine metros combined.

LOCALS ARE LOOKING TOO

One more trend worth noting: the share of searches coming from people who already live here has climbed from around 42% in 2023 to about 47% today. Plenty of current Riverside County residents are shopping for their next home without leaving the area, whether that means moving up, downsizing, or relocating to a different community like Temecula or Murrieta.

WHY LA AND ORANGE COUNTY BUYERS ARE LOOKING EAST

It comes down to what your money buys. Zillow puts the typical home value in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro at roughly $585,000, compared to nearly $968,000 in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro. That’s close to a $380,000 difference for a typical home.

For a family in Orange County or LA, that gap can mean the difference between renting indefinitely and owning. Or it can mean trading a condo for a single-family home with a yard, a newer build, or a community pool. Remote and hybrid work have made the trade easier, since many buyers only need to make the drive west a few days a week, or not at all.

WHY SAN DIEGO BUYERS ARE LOOKING NORTH

San Diego buyers face a similar math problem. Zillow puts the typical San Diego metro home value at about $942,000. Temecula and Murrieta sit within commuting range of North County San Diego, which makes Southwest Riverside County a natural landing spot for buyers who want to keep their jobs and friendships in San Diego while getting more space and a lower price.

OUT-OF-STATE BUYERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TOO

Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, New York, Dallas, and Chicago all show up in the top 20 sources of Riverside-area searches. Some are former Californians looking to come back, some are relocating for work or family, and some are military families with orders to the region. Whatever the reason, Southwest Riverside County is on the map nationwide.

WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO TEMECULA SPECIFICALLY

Affordability gets people looking, but it isn’t the only reason they stay. Buyers relocating here consistently mention:

– Highly regarded schools
– Newer master-planned communities with parks, pools, and trails
– Wine Country, Old Town, and a small-town feel with big-city conveniences
– Proximity to beaches, mountains, and both San Diego and Orange County
– Larger lots and more home for the money

WHAT THIS MEANS IF YOU’RE PLANNING A MOVE

If you’re one of the many buyers searching Riverside County from out of the area, a few things will make your move smoother:

– Learn the neighborhoods before you tour. Temecula and Murrieta neighborhoods vary a lot in HOA fees, Mello-Roos taxes, lot size, and commute access.
– Ask about Mello-Roos and HOA costs early. Many newer communities carry special assessments that affect your monthly payment as much as the interest rate does.
– Test the commute at the hour you’ll actually drive it. The I-15 and I-215 look very different at 7 a.m. than they do on a Sunday afternoon.
– Get pre-approved with a lender who knows the area so your offer is ready when the right home comes up.
– Work with a local agent who can preview homes for you and help you compare communities, especially if you can’t drive out every weekend.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Zillow’s search data confirms what we see every day: more than half of the people shopping for homes in our region live somewhere else, and LA and Orange County lead the way by a wide margin. They’re looking for more space, more value, and a better quality of life, and Temecula delivers on all three.

THINKING ABOUT MAKING THE MOVE?

Whether you’re in LA, Orange County, San Diego, or across the country, I’d love to help you figure out which Temecula or Murrieta neighborhood fits your life and budget. Let’s grab a coffee (or a video call) and brainstorm what your move could look like.

Jenni Pickard, REALTOR®
ERA Donahoe Realty | DRE #02029884
619-277-1349
leejenni22@hotmail.com
WWW.jennipickardrealestate.com