When in the market for a new home, it’s not as simple as just picking a new home. People consider many potential factors when selecting their next place of residence. Here are 11 important factors to consider when relocating or buying a new construction home.
Ideal Environment
Where is your ideal home location? The overall place where you want to live, raise a family, enhance your career, and grow? Buyers consider all these factors when moving to a city, suburb, coastal region, or mountains. After all, your environment contributes to your overall well-being!
Climate
The weather and overall climate can be another factor to consider when house hunting. Sun seekers will most often migrate closer to the equator to enjoy the long summer months, while winter lovers retreat in the opposite direction. Weather will impact your daily activities, fashion, and home design. A quick search for monthly weather stats can be a handy source of information when looking into your newly desired city.
Affordability + Cost of Living
Bankrate defines the cost of living as “the amount of money required to cover necessary expenses to maintain a certain lifestyle standard in a particular place and time.” These expenses include housing, food, clothing, health care, taxes, transportation, education, and entertainment.
Because expenses vary from city to city, the cost of living helps prospective buyers determine how affordable it is to live in a specific city or region.
Housing
The housing market is probably the number one factor when deciding where to move. Home prices typically heavily influence your location. You may explore a variety of housing types; single-family, multi-family, townhomes, condos, and apartments. Each category offers options for resale and new construction, as well as leasing vs. buying.
Traffic
Think of how long you’d be willing to drive to get around your new town or city. If you’re moving into a major city, consider traffic as a factor. Is public transportation an alternate way to get around the hassles of rush hour? Are you on a busy street? Is there a bus line that passes by? All things to consider!
Walkability + Size of City
An extension of the traffic factor is also the size of the city itself and how walkable it is. A trade-off from city living to suburban living to rural living is distance. Some buyers may prefer having a variety of restaurants and local shops within reach in the bustle of a crowded neighborhood. In contrast, some buyers prefer quieter streets with one grocery store across town. Either way, it’s essential to consider your preference when in the market for a new home. You can research walkability scores at walkscore.com.
Culture, Entertainment, + the Social Scene
What activities do you like to do in your free time? Are you looking to join a recreational sports team or lead your neighborhood book club? Do you prefer visiting nightclubs or frequenting your local dive bar? Another consideration is how easy it is to meet and form new friend groups. Small towns may make getting familiar with people you regularly see easier, while you may experience a level of anonymity in a bigger city.
Distance to Support Network
During the pandemic, many people moved closer to friends and family to spend more time with their loved ones. Is this an important consideration for you in your next move?
Schools
Whether you have kids now or are planning on having kids in the future, identifying the nearby schools within your district can be a crucial consideration. Using a tool like greatschools.org can help you see your options for elementary, middle, and high school, as well as the school’s ranking and additional academic (or otherwise) considerations.
Nearby Employment Opportunities
If you’re not moving for your current job and are hoping to find one in your new city, it’ll be essential to research nearby companies or job openings in your desired industry. According to move.com, 26% of Americans that moved in 2021 cited “career” as the primary motivator.
Health + Safety
Do you have health needs that require you to live near your doctor or special treatment centers, or are you trying to live an active, healthy lifestyle? Your relocation may hinge on these factors. Additionally, regardless of your marital status, household size, or gender, it’s always a good idea to look into the crime rate of your specific neighborhood.
There are many factors to consider when moving; prioritize what’s most important for you and your situation. Don’t be surprised if, over time, your criteria for relocation may change. If your search has led you to new construction homes on the Eastside, take a look at our homes available now and for presale on our website.