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What to
Consider Before
Moving to a New
State
Long-distance
relocation
factors include
schools, taxes,
costs of living,
transportation
and more. Moving
is almost always
a challenge, but
moving to a new
state can be
even more
complicated.
Here’s a look at
some common
reasons for
interstate moves
and factors to
consider when
planning your
relocation.
Homeowners
typically decide
to move from one
state to another
for one of three
reasons: a
corporate
relocation, a
new job or
retirement. Each
of those reasons
involves
different
criteria and
considerations
in the
decision-making
process.
Corporate
plans pay moving
expenses
Corporate
relocations
typically
involve a
transfer to a
specific state
that's dictated
by the employer.
But a job in one
state needn't
necessarily
preclude a
personal
residence in
another state,
especially if
the office is
near the state
border. For
example, the
south side of
Charlotte, N.C.,
is not far from
South Carolina,
which has lower
taxes and
housing costs.
Corporate
relocation plans
vary, but some
employers will
pay for one or
more
house-hunting
trips, moving
expenses, costs
associated with
the sale and
purchase of your
home, and basic
living expenses
while you're
in-between
residences.
Discounts,
rebates can cut
moving costs
Relocating to a
new state
without
corporate
reimbursement
can be costly,
so you'll want
to shop around
for discounts
and rebates that
can reduce your
out-of-pocket
expenses. Some
membership clubs
and warehouse
stores offer
rebates or
preferential
prices on real
estate, mortgage
and long-haul
moving services.
If you decide to
move across
state lines to
take a new job,
you should
research the
local job
market: If your
new position
falls short of
your
expectations or
your company is
down-sized,
merged, acquired
or closed, will
you be able to
find work near
your new home or
will you be
unemployed in a
place with only
limited job
opportunities?
Retirement is
the primary
reason why
people
voluntarily move
to another
state. Some
choose to move
closer to their
relatives;
others head for
warmer weather.
Considerations
for retirees
often include
the tax
structure and
cost of living
as well as
access to
top-rated or
affordable
medical care.
Here are some
other issues to
consider:
Schools.
If you have
school-aged
children, the
quality of the
state's public
or private
schools likely
will be the most
important
criteria in your
decision of
where to live.
Taxes.
State income,
property, sales
and other taxes
are well worth
researching
before you
decide to move
to another
state. Some
states have a
very low tax
burden; others
will take a
large bite out
of your budget
every year.
Business owners
may need to
research state
business taxes
and costs as
well.
Costs of
living.
Major categories
of living
expenses such as
housing,
transportation,
food, clothing,
recreation and
utilities also
vary from state
to state. For
instance, some
states have high
winter heating
costs while
others have high
summer cooling
costs. If you'll
need to own a
car rather than
rely on public
transportation,
add the cost of
the car, plus
maintenance,
license fees and
insurance to
your budget.
Weather.
Climate is both
a quality of
life issue and a
financial
consideration.
Bitter-cold
winter weather
keeps people
indoors and
increases costs
for utilities,
clothing and
maintenance of
your home and
vehicles. Very
hot summer
weather also
keeps people
indoors and
increases
utility costs.
Temperate
climates may
have much more
expensive
housing costs.
(Some climates
are plagued by
annoying species
of insects as
well.)
Disaster
risks.
Severe weather
like snow or ice
storms, hail,
floods,
tornados,
hurricanes and
brush fires are
other risks that
vary from state
to state. And at
least one type
of natural
disaster--earthquakes--can
happen in any
sort of weather.
Some of these
risks can be
mitigated with
specialty
insurance. It’s
worth looking
into what type
of special
insurance you
may need before
you move to a
new state.
Finding a
house in a new
city
Some research
and a good real
estate agent
will help you
find the best
neighborhood for
you. Finding a
house in a new
city is a common
occurrence in
today’s mobile
society.
Everyone seems
to be moving
across the
country for a
new job or
opportunity. But
it can be
intimidating to
figure out which
neighborhood is
best for you.
Here are some
tips to help you
approach finding
a house in a new
city with
confidence.
Use your
resources
When finding a
house in a new
city, chances
are that you
have a friend or
a friend of a
friend who is
familiar with
that city. Ask
questions. Find
out any and all
details that you
can about your
new destination.
If one of your
friends has
someone for you
to call that
lives in that
city, don’t
hesitate. What
you need is an
expert in your
new city, and
who better to
ask than someone
who already
lives there?
If you cannot
find someone who
has intimate
knowledge of
your new city,
there are also
online resources
for finding a
house. Web sites
such as
CitySearch can
help you
identify
neighborhoods
with criteria
that are
important to
you.
Also, be sure to
actually visit
your new city.
Spend a few days
getting a feel
for the city and
what the
different
neighborhoods
are like. This
can help you in
finding a house.
Know what is
important to you
In order to make
finding a house
easier, know
what is most
important to
you. Do you
prefer a rural,
suburban, or
urban setting?
How important is
commuting
distance to you?
Do you want to
be in the middle
of the action –
close to
restaurants,
theaters, and
shopping – or do
you want a nice,
quiet
neighborhood?
Don’t forget
about schools.
You may just
need an
elementary
school now, but
high school will
be here before
you know it.
When finding a
house, make sure
it is zoned for
schools that you
will be happy
with your kids
attending.
Many statistics
are available to
you online when
finding a house
in a new city.
You can find
school rankings,
income levels,
educational
levels, crime
rates, political
party donations
– almost
anything that
you could
possibly want to
know. A few
minutes
searching online
can help you in
finding a house
that fits where
you want to
live.
Find a good
real estate
agent
A good real
estate agent can
be a great asset
in finding a
house in a new
city. The agent
should be an
expert in the
area with much
more intimate
knowledge of
your new city
than you can
find out on your
own. Make sure
you provide your
agent with your
needs and wants,
so they can find
the right
neighborhood for
your family.
Being new to a
city can be
quite stressful,
but finding a
house does not
have to be. Know
what you want
and educate
yourself as much
as possible
about the new
city in order to
make things as
easy as
possible.
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