Prices have been increasing everywhere for the past 10 yrs on average since the last housing collapse which happened 12 yrs ago and persisted for a couple of yrs.
I’m now in SC and have owned homes in both North and South Carolina. Prices here are much lower due to the lower cost of labor and land. That is an attraction to buyers for sure but the lower RE taxes are long term at least as important.
I used to live in Northern NJ in a 1200 sq ft Cape. RE taxes on that property are over $11,000 annually. I know live in a 2000 sq ft new home on a larger lot in SC and my RE taxes are a bit over $1400 annually.
So there is the double draw of home prices probably close to 25% less for similar homes in the NE and the added attraction of RE taxes being a small fraction of what they would be in the NE.
The amount of construction here must be seen to be believed. Almost everywhere you look they are building Town Homes, apartments and detached home communities with the emphasis on over 55 retirement communities.
My sister in law and husband live in Pawley’s Island. They moved from NH eight years ago. It has been booming ever since.