Some moves have a fixed date: a job that starts, a house that has to sell, a family that needs to be settled by school. Others have a fixed preference, for a quiet sale with fewer showings. Either way, timing is the thing to plan. This page shows where San Diego County’s newcomers come from, how a quiet sale or purchase fits a relocation, and a timeline checklist.
Relocating
Relocating to San Diego: Timing a Quiet Sale or Purchase
How relocation timelines work when privacy or speed matters, where San Diego County’s newcomers come from, what to compare and a timeline checklist for a quiet sale or purchase.
The big picture
Moving in and moving out: the big picture
Two public sources, the IRS and the Census Bureau, count moves into and out of San Diego County.
Moving in, moving out, net
People counted on tax returns (adults and their dependents) whose address changed between counties; grouped by where they came from or went. Source: IRS Statistics of Income.
| Where from or to | Moved in 2022–2023 | Moved out 2022–2023 | Net 2022–2023 | Net 2021–2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other California counties | 44,138 | 40,714 | +3,424 | +2,646 |
| Other states | 61,537 | 83,686 | −22,149 | −30,475 |
| Other countries | 4,459 | 3,946 | +513 | +964 |
| All moves | 110,134 | 128,346 | −18,212 | −26,865 |
In 2022–2023, about 110,134 people moved into San Diego County and about 128,346 moved out, a net change of −18,212. Put in proportion, arrivals were about 3.4% of the county’s population and departures about 3.9%.
The Census estimate, year by year
Estimates for July 1 of each year; “net” is natural change plus domestic and international migration.
| Year | Population | Births minus deaths | Domestic migration | International migration | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 1, 2022 | 3,279,089 | +12,497 | −16,848 | +13,358 | −3,490 |
| Year to July 1, 2023 | 3,279,736 | +12,357 | −29,397 | +17,945 | −11,452 |
| Year to July 1, 2024 | 3,287,542 | +12,517 | −22,231 | +17,665 | −4,566 |
| Year to July 1, 2025 | 3,282,248 | +12,462 | −23,876 | +6,132 | −17,744 |
The Census Bureau’s population estimates tell a similar story. In the year to July 1, 2025, the estimate for San Diego County shows −23,876 from domestic migration (people moving between here and elsewhere in the U.S.) and +6,132 from international migration, against +17,665 the year before.
These are counts of people and households by place. They cannot say why anyone moved, and they leave out people who do not file a tax return. Small flows are grouped together by the IRS and not shown.
Where a quiet sale fits a relocation
A quiet, or off-market, sale is not a shortcut around the normal steps. The disclosures, the inspections, the escrow and the recording are all still there. What changes is how the home is offered and to whom. That can suit a relocation in three ways:
- Privacy. Fewer showings and less public exposure for sellers who prefer them.
- Speed. A buyer with a pre-approval and a clear timeline can sometimes move faster than a full public marketing period.
- Fit. A buyer relocating on a schedule may hear about a home before it reaches the general market.
The trade-off is exposure: a home shown to fewer buyers can attract fewer offers. Ask your agent how a quiet sale would compare with a public listing for your home and your timeline. The off-market and property tax page covers the tax side.
Other states
From and to other states
State totals add up the county-level flows for each state.
Which other states people move from and to
People moving between San Diego County and other states, 2022–2023, sorted by net change. Top 6.
| State | Moved in | Moved out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,249 | 9,721 | −4,472 |
| Arizona | 4,387 | 7,283 | −2,896 |
| Florida | 4,008 | 6,158 | −2,150 |
| Nevada | 2,335 | 3,818 | −1,483 |
| Tennessee | 573 | 1,977 | −1,404 |
| North Carolina | 1,843 | 2,929 | −1,086 |
The state-to-state tally is 61,537 arrivals against 83,686 departures. Texas stands out on both counts: 5,249 in, 9,721 out, a net of −4,472.
Differences to consider
Differences to consider before you move
The things newcomers most often ask about, with a place to start on each.
What to compare
General information for orientation. Confirm anything that matters with the official source, your lender and your agent.
| Topic | What to compare | Where to look or whom to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Selling one home and buying another | Two moves at once are easier with a plan: which closes first, where you stay in between, and what happens if one date slips. | Your agent and lender. |
| How the closing works | The path from accepted offer to keys is short and structured here: contingency periods, then loan and appraisal, then signing at escrow. Knowing the dates ahead of time makes it calm. | Your agent and the escrow officer. |
| Disclosures and reports | Between the seller’s disclosures and your own inspections you can learn a great deal about a home before you commit. Take the time to read them. | Your agent; the inspectors you choose. |
| Property tax | Buying here resets the taxable value to what you paid. From then on the yearly increase is capped at 2%, so the first bill is the one to budget from. In some states the bill follows the market year by year. | The property tax estimator; the county assessor for a specific address. |
| Insurance | Price insurance early: wildfire and coastal exposure, an older roof or wiring, and optional earthquake coverage can each change the premium. | An independent insurance broker. |
| Getting around | Ask where your regular trips will go (work, airport, family) and time them at the hours you would really travel. | Try the drive at your own commute hour. |
Checklist
The checklist
Practical steps for a move to the area, grouped by when to do them.
The move, step by step
Print this page or copy the list. Not every item applies to every move.
Three to six months out
- Talk with a lender and get pre-approved so your budget is real.
- Write down the true monthly cost of owning: the loan payment, property tax, homeowners insurance and any association dues or special taxes.
- If you are coming from another state: Talk to a CPA about California income tax before you arrive, particularly if your current state has none.
- If you are coming from another country: Gather the financial documents a U.S. lender will ask for, and ask early how funds from abroad are documented.
- If you are selling and coming from elsewhere in California: If you own a home now, ask what it would net with the seller net proceeds tool, and whether your move date depends on the sale.
- If you are selling and coming from elsewhere in California: Homeowners 55 and older, and some others, should ask the assessor about carrying their tax base to a new California home (Proposition 19) before selling.
- If you are renting: Decide how much rent is comfortable and when you will revisit buying; the rent-versus-buy tool shows both sides.
- See the area on a weekday morning, a weekend and after dark before you commit.
One to three months out
- Set aside cash for closing costs (the closing cost tool gives a starting estimate) in addition to your down payment.
- If you are selling: Request the property’s permit history and collect the HOA paperwork before you list.
- If you are selling: Request a personal market report and plan the repairs, staging and photography for your listing.
Once you are under contract
- Read the seller’s disclosures (the Transfer Disclosure Statement and the Natural Hazard Disclosure) and ask your agent about anything unclear.
- Ask for the HOA’s CC&Rs, budget, reserves and meeting minutes, and read them before your contingencies end.
- Collect an insurance quote for the address before you remove your contingencies.
- Expect to sign a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report at escrow; it is filed with the county assessor.
- Order a home inspection and a termite (wood-destroying pest) report soon after the contract is signed; both are customary here.
- Confirm that smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms are installed and the water heater is braced; California requires both at a sale.
Move week
- File a change of address with USPS and tell banks, insurers, your employer and any subscriptions.
- Do the final walk-through just before closing and check that the agreed repairs are complete.
- Pack an essentials box you open first: chargers, medications, documents, sheets and basic tools.
Your first 30 days
- Watch for the supplemental tax bill California sends after a purchase; it is separate from the regular bill.
- If you are coming from another state: Look up the California DMV rules for new residents: a license within 10 days and vehicle registration within 20 are the general expectations.
- Change your voter registration to your California address.
- If you are coming from another country: Open a U.S. bank account and ask a lender how to start building a U.S. credit history.
- If you are renting: Read the lease for notice, deposit and renewal terms, and keep a copy.
- Set up electric and gas, water, trash and internet, and ask for the last twelve months of bills to see typical costs.
- Find a doctor, dentist and vet, and transfer records and prescriptions.
- If you are coming from elsewhere in California: Look up pet licensing and the local waste, recycling and street-sweeping rules.
How Rudy can help
Rudy Flores, Real Estate Strategist with Coldwell Banker West, can turn this page into a plan for your move to San Diego: the market numbers for your ZIP code, the differences that apply to your situation and a timeline you can print. He also introduces newcomers to the local professionals they tend to need first, such as a lender, an inspector and an insurance broker.
Tell him where you are coming from, when you would like to be settled and whether you plan to buy, sell first or rent first. He will send a short, personal plan, with no pressure.
Common questions
Is a quiet sale faster?
Sometimes, but not always. The steps after acceptance are the same, and fewer buyers see the home.
Do the disclosures still apply?
Yes. California’s disclosure rules apply to a quiet sale as to any other.
What about a relocation on a fixed date?
Build the timeline backward from your start date, and add a back-up plan such as a short rental.
A note on what this is
A word about what this is: a plain-English summary of public data and general California practice, written by a real estate agent (Rudy Flores, CalDRE #02257808, Coldwell Banker West). It says nothing about why any person or household moved. For advice about taxes, immigration or legal questions, please speak with a licensed professional.
Keep exploring
- The off-market guide — How quiet sales work.
- Off-market zoning and entitlement due diligence — What to check on the property.
- Seller net proceeds — What a sale might net.
- Moving cost planner — Estimate the cost of the move itself.
- Off-Market Sales and Property Tax: How the Assessor Knows — How the property tax bill works after a purchase.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Sources
- IRS Statistics of Income: migration data (county-to-county flows)
- U.S. Census Bureau: county population totals and components of change, 2020–2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020–2024, table B07001 (geographic mobility)
General information for orientation, not legal, tax, financial or appraisal advice. Details change; confirm anything that matters with the official source, your lender and your agent.