How to Decide Where to Live

Choosing where to live can feel overwhelming. Not only do you need to narrow down what state, city and neighborhood to settle in, you also need to find the right home that fits your lifestyle and your budget.

Perhaps you’re driven to relocate for a job change, life transition, or the opportunity to be closer to family and friends. You may also be planning a move because you desire a more affordable cost of living or better quality of life.

The options for choosing where to live can seem endless, but you must not make this major life decision blindly. This article shares helpful tips and important factors to consider when deciding where to live easier.

One of the most important considerations when deciding where to live is determining what you hope to gain from the move.

• Are you moving for a better quality of life or a job opportunity? 
• Do you want to live in a small town after being in a city for decades? 
• Are you moving for more favorable year-round weather?
• Do you want access to more outdoor space?
• Is more affordable housing a key motivator in your decision?

“Everybody is so different and different factors drive their decisions. A lot of times, it comes down to a few key points,” says Jason Ostrowsky, a Tri-County Suburban Realtors board of directors member and real estate agent serving the suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metro area.

Ostrowsky recommends creating a list of your must-haves and deal-breakers based on what you want and need from this transition. These are essential items you want from your new home and deal-breakers that would make the relocation a bad move.

Here are a few lifestyle considerations to determine:

• If you desire an urban, suburban or rural lifestyle.
• The ideal population for the town or city.
• Safety and family-friendliness of the area.
• The weather and environmental risks like hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes or wildfires.
• Healthcare costs, and the quality and accessibility of healthcare. 
• Proximity to friends and family.
• Access to outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, walking trails or other hobbies.
• Proximity to transportation, grocery stores, shops, dining or other amenities.
• The cost of living in the state includes income taxes, housing costs and life expenses.

Consider your ideal life with these questions in mind, and decide what you can’t live without and what would be a true deal-breaker.

Your life stage will largely impact the place you choose to live, and it should be one of the top factors to consider when deciding where to live.

• Are you a young professional looking to meet people and have access to a more urban way of living? 
• Do you have children or plan to have children soon? You might want proximity to family-oriented activities and other young families. 
• If you are an empty nester, are you looking for a retirement community where you can do the hobbies you enjoy more often?

The neighborhood search on Homes.com can help you find the locations in a given area that would likely suit you. The search filters allow you to identify neighborhoods by price, as well as areas with the age and household income demographics that match what you’re looking for. You can also filter based on the crime and safety of an area, as well as the average high and low temperatures that the area typically experiences. 

Your life stage may also influence the type of home you buy or rent. If you want a low-maintenance home for your retirement years or because you’re busy working, you may do better with a townhouse or condo than a single-family home. If you want space for the children to play or to grow a garden, you may want a house with a large lot or acreage.

After you’ve narrowed down what you want from the relocation, it’s time to assess if you can afford to live there. 

Start by creating a budget based on your current income compared with your expected living costs in the new location. This begins with how much home you can afford and the general housing costs in your desired neighborhood, town or city. If you plan to buy a home for this move, budget for hidden costs, including ongoing repairs, maintenance, property taxes, insurance and possibly HOA fees.

A move should never make you house-poor. “Always make sure you’re in a financially good place before moving,” says Ostrowsky. 

You also need to consider the cost of living. This goes beyond housing costs like rent or a mortgage. You’ll want to budget for groceries, vehicle insurance, transportation costs, utilities, dining and other activities. 

High-cost areas like Los Angeles and Manhattan require a much larger budget than cities like Oklahoma City and Memphis. Estimate costs to see if your income will cover basic living expenses.

Your budget may also impact the type of housing you buy or rent. Single-family homes in certain areas may exceed your budget, but you could buy or rent a townhouse or condo.

If you have long-term plans to be in the area for a while, consider looking for a place to buy. However, renting may make sense if you:

• Relocate temporarily, for example, as part of a short-term job contract.
• Can’t afford to buy yet in a new area. Renting may give you time to save for your down payment and closing costs. 
• Want to spend time in the area to ensure the neighborhood or city is as you hoped.

Even if you have the funds to buy, renting can be a good way to keep your budget in check. Sometimes, a place can appear to have a better cost of living than it does in reality. Renting or staying there for an extended period can let you develop a routine to determine if your income can handle the move over the long-term.

Often, a relocation is inspired by places you’ve visited in the past, or cities you’ve heard good things about. The location that you pick should meet the criteria on your must-have list.

If not, you can start from scratch by using Homes.com. This is a great way to dive deeper into a city’s neighborhoods. You can also use the school search to find highly rated schools in a given area. As you research neighborhoods, you’ll find information like the area’s Walk Score, Transit Score and Bike Score. You’ll also see how accessible the area is to public transportation, as well as amenities like shops and restaurants.

Visit the area to evaluate to make sure that you like it. Go to the local grocery store, walk the local parks and consider taking your normal commute. Getting to experience the area first-hand like this is hugely helpful when evaluating an area where you might live.

It’s also a great opportunity to chat with locals or talk with a local real estate agent to learn more about what it’s like to live there.

Remember to factor in the pros and cons of moving to a destination. No place is perfect, and every city, state and neighborhood has drawbacks that may cost you extra money or require further considerations before moving.

• Consider visiting during different seasons to see if you can withstand the weather when it’s less desirable. Live through a storm or fire season to see if you can handle the risks or impacts to the local area.
• Research the public transportation options and see if you can handle the commute time to your local shops, potential workplace or other areas of interest. “It’s always the little things that make or break you loving your home. Commute times are a big thing,” says Ostrowsky.
• If you don’t have a job yet, explore the job market and see what opportunities are available.
• If you have a family or plan to have children soon, don’t overlook the quality of schools in the area. Make sure there is a school that will meet your family's educational needs.

The political and social climate within the local community is also something to consider. Are there local groups or larger community efforts that align with your interests and values? The community atmosphere doesn’t need to be perfect, but you want to feel safe and connected.

Choosing a new place to call home is not a decision that should be made lightly. Consider staying in the area for an extended time before relocating permanently. 

Don’t overlook your must-haves, like a short commute, access to outdoor spaces and parks or a lower cost of living, just to live in your dream location. It’s easy to get swept away by the idea of living in a new place and ignore long-term plans and current needs in the process.

“The factors I look at most when helping my clients decide where to live are long and short-term goals, lifestyle considerations and budget,” says Ostrowsky. Keep those factors in mind and deciding where to live will be much less daunting.