In my personal opinion, I would hesitate to move to a new location without a job lined up.  Work with local recruiters in your target area(s) to get a feel on the job market in the region.  See what kind of openings are available and apply remotely.  Most recruiters are willing to do at least an initial phone interview with promising candidates, although you may have to fly in for an in-person 2nd or 3rd interview.

In my area (Western Canada), there's definitely been a slowdown but there still are positions available.  You need to have realistic expectations on salary/rates, as they have come down somewhat as demand has tightened.