Whether you’re relocating because your employer tells you to, or you’re choosing to opt for a change in scenery, the benefits and dangers of relocating are the same. Before deciding whether to stay or go, you need to consider your finances, your current and future proximity to family and friends, your employment, your family’s wants and needs, and much more.
One of the first things you need to consider when relocating is that your cost of living is probably going to change. In general, if you’re moving from a more urban, populated, and central area to somewhere more rural your cost of living will decrease. And the same goes for the other way around; if you’re moving from a rural or outlying area to an urban, central location, your cost of living will increase. That means the price of your home, your fuel, your groceries, and much more will go up.
According to Inman News reporters, D.C, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Boston are some of the most expensive places to live in the continental U.S. just based on housing expenses alone. “However, when transportation costs are added to the mix, some metro areas such as New York and Chicago where there is good public transportation and density puts services in walking distance, the cost burden is lessened”. All of this to say that you need to do some serious research on an area before you make the move.
If you have children, you must also consider what relocating means for them in terms of their schooling options and in terms of losing old friends and making new ones. Whatever the case, be sure to talk to your kids about the move so they aren’t blindsided.
Are you moving to be closer to family and friends? Or are you moving away from family and friends? It’s important to consider the reality of relocating and what it could mean for some of your relationships.
Inman News reporter Dian Hymer warns that relocating because a person is “dissatisfied with their life” may not be the best idea. Sometimes, “you take your personal problems with you”. Along those same lines, relocating should not be a hasty decision; it’s very important to think through all of the pros and cons before moving, which includes talking to your friends, family, financial advisor, and real estate agents.
There are definitely good and bad reasons for choosing to relocate. And there are a lot of factors that should be considered when thinking about relocating. Make sure you’re ready for the move before you actually make the move!
For more information on relocating, check out Dian Hymer’s Inman News article.
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