More people are moving, according to Atlas Van Lines’ annual Migration Patterns study. In the 2010 U.S. Census, long-distance moves hit a record low. However, Atlas Van Lines says its recent study has shown monthly increases starting in late 2010 with the number of household who are back on the move again.

As the economy forges ahead and the prevalence of these issues subsides, Americans are starting to move again, says Francis Yuen, an analyst with CoStar's Property & Portfolio Research. The questions are: to where, and how can investors make money from it?

Residents of Rust Belt states, in particular, are relocating, due to high unemployment numbers that plague the region. States next to the Rust Belt, therefore, are seeing some of the largest increases in new residents.

Here are some of the findings from the Migration Patterns study:

• Washington, D.C. — for the fifth year in a row — had the highest percentage of inbound moves. Kentucky, North Carolina, and Maryland were popular states to move to.
• Ohio had the highest percentage of people leaving, with Indiana also seeing an increase in people leaving the state.
• Phoenix, Austin, Texas, and Raleigh, N.C., are projected to have some of the strongest 2011 household growth rates.
• Summer continues to be the most popular season for moving.

Source: People Are Moving Again, CoStar Group