By Beth McKay
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May 8, 2020
When it comes to choosing the perfect new home for you and your family, many factors come into play; type and size of dwelling, location, school district, traffic patterns, amenities, safety, neighborhood vibe, etc. It will be difficult to find the right place to call your own until you get to know the various neighborhoods in your new area and come across a property you truly like in the part of town you want to live in. That’s why many experts suggest that renting a house at first when moving to a new city is the better choice. It will give you the chance to explore your new area and find the perfect new home for you. Buying a home is a major financial commitment. Having your own home, though, and being in charge of your surroundings has many great benefits that make the investment more than worth it but you want to make sure you find the right home for you and your family. Renting is considered the smarter choice when moving to a new city for a number of good reasons, it gives you flexibility, simplicity, and time. You won’t need to worry about finding a new home while dealing with the sale of your old house, saying goodbye to family and friends, and organizing your move. This will allow you to focus your time and energy on the forthcoming relocation and will take off some of the stress of moving house. You’ll have the time to unwind after your big move before you start setting up a new home and adjusting to a new community. You’ll have the chance to explore your new area and learn the ups and downs of your new city before deciding on a place to live. You’ll have the chance to test out a neighborhood before committing to it. You’ll be able to carefully research your housing options and, if necessary, wait for a while until an appropriate property becomes available. You’ll be able to complete any repairs and renovations you want to make to your new home before moving in. You won’t be stuck with a mortgage and a home, so if anything happens, you’ll be free to leave on your own terms. 1. It takes time to learn the city and its neighborhoods Often, someone will move to a new place and think they’ll spend their time in one part of town, only to find they actually like it better somewhere else. In this case, they haven’t acted as an informed buyer. Being an informed buyer means knowing the market or inventory of houses and the intricacies of different neighborhoods. Buying real estate is not only a huge investment; it’s a commitment to the home and the area. You can’t be an informed buyer unless you’ve spent some time exploring the neighborhoods. Take a year to learn the different parts of town and the characteristics of the various neighborhoods. Each week, explore a new restaurant in a different part of town. Go for a walk or do your grocery shopping in another. Also, take time to learn about city politics and government, to check out the local board of education and school districts (if you have kids), and to explore the parks and playgrounds. Once the year is up, you’ll be in a much better position to make a huge investment. 2. A lot can happen in a year Imagine buying a home not long after you hit town, only to discover in six months that you hate your new job and your former employer wants you back. Or, you’ve received an offer for an even better job in the metro area, but it requires commuting further, and you’ve bought a home in a part of town that’s as far from the new job as you can get. And there you are, stuck with a new mortgage and a home that won’t be easy to unload. So much can happen when you uproot your life dramatically, and it’s difficult to accurately predict how things will eventually “settle.” Give yourself the time to get grounded in your new life by renting a home or apartment instead of buying, so that you’ve got the flexibility to make adjustments you hadn’t anticipated. 3. Moving to a new city causes enough stress; why add to it? Moving is never easy. So much happens at once, especially when you’re relocating to a new town. You have to say goodbye to your friends and family, pack up the house, close out your work, and hire movers — and then do most of the same on the other side, including finding a new place to live. Too much change at once is hard to deal with, and focusing your energies on finding a home to buy leads to additional stress and anxiety. It might just push you over the edge. On the other hand, renting an apartment can give you flexibility and simplicity. The stakes are so much lower, because you know that wherever you chose to live is only temporary. And after your lease is up, you can likely rent month-to-month. When you decide to purchase a house, you’ll be able to make an informed choice as you will have explored the different neighborhoods in your new city and learned their characteristics (available amenities, entertainment locales, and recreational facilities; playgrounds, parks, and green areas; traffic peculiarities and transportation options; crime rate and safety; social, demographic, and ethnic characteristics of the communities; school districts; etc.). You’ll be able to find the perfect home in the perfect area to live in.