Are you planning to move out of your neighborhood? Are you sick and tired of the noise around the area and instead settle in a quieter and calmer suburban community? Or are you getting bored and feeling stuck with your laid-back neighborhood and now prefer the hustle and bustle of urban life? Do you like a place where every commercial space is within reach, or do you want to live in a more secluded space?
To Belong to a Community
Whatever your preference, know that humanity’s choice of neighborhood evolves. This is especially true now that the world is in the middle of a pandemic. As you get older and your experiences get deeper, you realize how you want to live your life. Your mental, emotional, and financial states in life also determine your neighborhood preference. If you have a more stable job and a higher income, you will have the luxury to choose where you want to live. But if you belong to lower-income families, your options will be limited.
It can be a little hassle to move into a new community once your preference changes. But know that the community you live in also determines your lifestyle. So make sure you know what you want and where you want to live before moving out.
Neighborhood Preferences Change
The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the perception of Americans in how they choose their community. The Community and Transportation Surveys in 2020 conducted by the National Association of Realtors compared how people’s perceptions changed from February 2020 to July 2020, just when the pandemic hit.
According to the survey, Americans now prefer communities where they can take a walk. Those who are in areas with walking spots said that they are more satisfied. The younger generations also like neighborhoods with bigger yards where they can spend their time on. Compared to previous months, Americans did not prioritize accessibility to public transit and access to the highway, given that most people are working and studying from home. Thus, most city residents said they want to live in areas where they can put up a home office or private work area.
The survey only proves that people’s preferences in choosing the area to live in also depends on the current situation. It also depends on their own needs. Some prefer a place where access to groceries, hospitals, and pharmacies are within reach. Meanwhile, others prefer to live in a remote area to avoid large crowds in the time of the pandemic.
The choice is always yours, depending on where you want to live and what kind of community you want to live in.
What You Should Consider When Moving Out
But no matter how many criteria you put into your bucket list of community, there are still factors to consider. These factors will limit your choices, and in the end, you will have to compromise.
A Forbes report in 2018 listed down questions to ask yourself when you’re deciding where you want to live your life. Part of their recommendations is to ask your reason or purpose in choosing. What motivates you? What pushes you to look for a place?
Next to consider is your lifestyle. What is your routine? What are your usual activities? You will also have to assess your readiness for change. Are you willing to go through all the hassles of changing your addresses on documents, transferring possessions, and all the move entails?
The report also noted decisiveness. How decisive are you in moving out, or do you only want to take some time away? Next on the Forbes list is to consider your readiness to let go of your stuff.
Next is finality. When you choose this neighborhood, are you sure that you’re not planning to move out again in the future? You must also consider your finances. Do you have the resources to buy a property? How financially ready are you to look up for available properties on the market?
Once you consider all these, decide if you want it and if you are ready for it. Transferring to a new neighborhood can be costly and require time and effort. You won’t want to move out from time to time because you are not sure what kind of community you want to live in. Assess your readiness and your resources. Talk to urban planners or real estate brokers if you need some guidance.
At the end of the day, it is you who will live there for the rest of your life. You might feel you are ready for the change but think about this decision deeply. The choice is yours, and your future hinges on this decision.
