Deciding where to live and moving cross-country is no easy task, there are a lot of circumstances you need to think of. Which school will your kid go to, will the new home be safe, will you fit in, and so on. There are a lot of factors you need to take into consideration – your budget, your job, and your family’s needs all have to fit into the idea of your perfect home. That’s why we have prepared our relocation guide to help you decide how to choose a city to live in that will suit all your needs and help you move efficiently.
How to Pick a City to Live in – A Guide to Choosing a Home
If you’re feeling restless and you’re ready for a change of scenery, you’ll be faced with a dilemma – how to pick a city to live in? This is a major decision, and with all the factors you should consider, it might be hard to find the right answer. You might feel as if no place in the world will have all the things you desire, but we’re here to help you find your perfect city.
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First, See How Much You Can Afford
The first thing we would advise you to do is to figure out how much you can afford to spend monthly. After figuring out your relocation budget, the real question is can you afford to live in your dream home? The expenses don’t stop once you move and pay cross-country movers for their cross-country moving services. In fact, they are just beginning. You will have to pay for your rent, groceries, bills, and other expenses. So organize your finances and see how much you can afford monthly.
Take a Look at the Difference in the Cost of Living
Different cities have different costs of living. You can’t expect to move to Los Angeles and pay the same amount of money for rent as you would in Phoenix. So, before deciding where to move to, do some research and see if you can afford it. The difference in the cost of living can be really significant and may come as a shock to some people, especially the ones relocating from a small town to a big city. If you were planning on relocating to a big city, you should be prepared for the higher cost of rent, groceries, bills, transportation fees, and any expenses overall.
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The higher the costs, the higher your monthly income will have to be in order to keep up with your lifestyle. If your income stays the same and the expenses get higher, you will not be able to afford the same lifestyle anymore. The amount of rent you were paying is now doubled or even tripled, for the same size of an apartment. You can use websites such as Numbeo to compare the difference in the cost of living between two cities.
Even tax rates are different between states. For example, the state of Florida waives income taxes, but Delaware is one of five states that doesn’t charge sales taxes. New Hampshire doesn’t charge either of them. Be sure to do thorough research before hiring a cross-country moving company and see what your tax burden will be.
Find Out if There Are Any Job Opportunities for You Before Moving
Unless you’re already relocating for work, don’t go calling long-distance movers if you haven’t done proper research on job opportunities your future hometown has to offer. Find out what is the situation with the job market, and if your field of work is in demand. Make sure there is job potential. We don’t recommend just relocating overnight without a plan on how you will earn an income, always get a job before you move.
Imagine How Your Perfect House Should Look Like
One of the best house-hunting tips we can give you is to picture your dream home before making the decision to move to another state. You should be able to clearly see what you are looking for in a house in order to fit your lifestyle. If you love having barbecues outside or if you’re relocating with dogs, you will want to have a nice, big backyard. Or perhaps, you want to have a nice pool in your backyard. Create a checklist of all the things you want your dream house to have, and then start looking at cities that could support that dream.
Always Keep an Eye on the Real Estate Market
One of the most important things to consider when relocating to a new place is what the real estate market is like. Is it a buyer’s or a seller’s market? Do homes sell below or above the asking prices? These are all great questions you should ask a reputable real estate agent.
They should warn you if it’s a bad time to buy property at that moment. And even if it’s a hot market, we would recommend renting for a few months, ideally for the first six months, so you can get a feel for your new hometown and see if you want to stay. Once you’re sure you want to continue living there, look into buying a house and owning property. If you don’t know that much about real estate and its rules, watch this video if you want to get to understand it:
How to Pick a City to Live in if You Have a Family?
If you’re relocating with kids, you will have to add a few extra things to your criteria list when searching for a home. What are the three factors to consider when looking for a place to live with your children? In our opinion, three main factors that will help your kids cope with the move and that you should consider when picking a home are:
- The safety of the neighborhood,
- Their education,
- Amenities.
Find a Safe Neighborhood
Having children means you are always worried for their safety and wellbeing. So try to find a good neighborhood. Statistics don’t show the full story all the time, which is why you should research crime rates for your future hometown. Safety comes first, so don’t be lazy and find out as much as you can about the area. Feel free to ask your realtor as well, they can always show you housing options in the safest neighborhoods and warn you about any trouble.
Search for the Best Schools
Whether you’re planning on public or private schools, you’ll want to live in a good school district. Relocating is hard for children, they have to go to a different school, be surrounded by new people, and make friends in a new city. So try to make the transition as easy as possible for them by finding the best possible school. Take your time and do some research, read online reviews, and ask other parents for their opinions and recommendations. There are also many websites that can give you a rundown of the best schools in different cities.
Make Sure Their Needs for a Normal Lifestyle Are Met
Being a parent means you have to put your children’s needs first. It also means you can’t uproot your whole life and move to a mountain far away, they have to be close to school and friends and have a normal lifestyle for a kid. That is why your new hometown needs to have all the necessary amenities such as a hospital, school, public transportation, stores, playgrounds, outside activity options, and all the other things that contribute to a normal childhood.
Do Thorough Research on Your Future Hometown
The best tip we can give you on how to find the best city for you is to do some research and learn as much as you can about your future hometown. Once you find a good candidate that passed the initial check, you have to make sure it will be a good fit. So how do you explore a city you want to move to? By reading online about everything you can possibly think of. Here are just a few of the things you should look up before deciding to move.
What Is the Weather Like?
Climate is a really important factor when it comes to deciding on a future home. Since you’re gaining a fresh start and an opportunity to tailor your life to your needs, you can pick between a colder and a warmer climate. If you love moderate but snowy winters, living in Boston might be the perfect fit for you. On the other hand, if you want sunny weather, relocating to Los Angeles is the right choice for you. Another thing you should definitely look into is what the air quality is like in certain places.
What Kind of Cultural Experience Does it Offer?
It’s a known fact that bigger cities offer you great cultural experiences. So if you want to be surrounded by beautiful architecture, big libraries, museums, and theaters, major metropolitan cities, and their suburbs are the best place for you to move to. There are always interesting shows and concerts, so you will never get bored.
Is It Walkable and How Is the Public Transportation There?
You have to move somewhere you can get around easily. That means it should be walkable or have a great public transportation option. Figure out your daily routes and commute from and to work or school. No one wants to be stuck in traffic jams every day. Also, if you love traveling and you fly frequently, have airport proximity in mind.
Are There Any Outdoor Activities?
Hobbies and activities are a crucial part of people’s lives, and some people love being outdoors. Consider the options for outdoor activities, whether you enjoy jogging, swimming or hiking. If spending time in nature is important to you, find a place that can provide you with some wonderful scenery.
Is It Close to Family and Friends?
If saying goodbye to friends and family is difficult for you, consider relocating closer to them. Having your closest ones only half an hour drive away will make your move easier. If you have kids, you will always have someone ready to babysit, and having loved ones near will ease the anxiety about relocating and take the pressure off meeting new people.
Find the Right Long-Distance Moving Company if You Decide to Move to Your Dream Location
Once you can answer the question of what city should I move to with absolute certainty and confidence, it’s time to move. That means you have to plan your move as quickly as possible. If you want to have an efficient move, we recommend hiring professionals to help you move. Take a look at at least three cross-country moving companies and compare their quotes before choosing a cross-country moving company that’s going to handle your relocation. Once you hire long-distance moving services and packing services, all that’s left for you to do is get excited about the next chapter of your life.
