Relocating to a new region, state, or city can be tough. As a child we moved 4 times to 4 different states. We made our way from St. Louis Missouri and ended in Royersford, Pennsylvania over a 20 year span. Before the internet, I'm impressed how my parents made such a big decision with little research or knowledge. They did a great job though- each town was a wonderful place to grow up!
How do you choose where to live? Where do you begin?
Unlike the 70s, 80s and 90s when my parents moved us around, today we can do so much on the internet to learn about areas, schools and even utilize virtual maps to see certain things.
Here are some tips on how to begin:
First, figure out what's important to help narrow down areas. For example:
School Districts and/or specialty schools
How close (or far) do you want to be to shopping, grocery stores, parks, church, etc
Finalize your Price Point and annual Taxes. This will help narrow down towns you can/want afford
Second, talk to your new colleagues to get "real" opinions. Keep in mind, they are most likely bias opinions, but at least it can offer some advice!
Thirdly, do your online homework,
Here are some helpful websites to check out:
http://www.schooldigger.com/stateuserrankings.aspx
http://www.greatschools.org
http://www.realtor.com
http://www.walkscore.com
http://www.city-data.com/forum/
Check out township websites once you've narrowed those down. A lot of towns have Facebook pages too!
Lastly, do some leg work. Once you've determined a few towns, drive around, go to grocery stores, visit coffee shops, etc. This is the only way to get a good sense of the area. It takes time, but it's worth it.
Even with this accessible information, it's still essential to work with a Realtor. They will provide more details about what's happening in the area in terms of prices, parks, statistics, etc. They usually live and work throughout the area and can provide professional opinions and guidance.
If you know someone moving to the Philadelphia region, I can help! I have my NJ and PA real estate license which comes in handy when helping Philly work based individuals and families. Contact me today!
How do you choose where to live? Where do you begin?
Unlike the 70s, 80s and 90s when my parents moved us around, today we can do so much on the internet to learn about areas, schools and even utilize virtual maps to see certain things.
Here are some tips on how to begin:
First, figure out what's important to help narrow down areas. For example:
School Districts and/or specialty schools
How close (or far) do you want to be to shopping, grocery stores, parks, church, etc
Finalize your Price Point and annual Taxes. This will help narrow down towns you can/want afford
Second, talk to your new colleagues to get "real" opinions. Keep in mind, they are most likely bias opinions, but at least it can offer some advice!
Thirdly, do your online homework,
Here are some helpful websites to check out:
http://www.schooldigger.com/stateuserrankings.aspx
http://www.greatschools.org
http://www.realtor.com
http://www.walkscore.com
http://www.city-data.com/forum/
Check out township websites once you've narrowed those down. A lot of towns have Facebook pages too!
Lastly, do some leg work. Once you've determined a few towns, drive around, go to grocery stores, visit coffee shops, etc. This is the only way to get a good sense of the area. It takes time, but it's worth it.
Even with this accessible information, it's still essential to work with a Realtor. They will provide more details about what's happening in the area in terms of prices, parks, statistics, etc. They usually live and work throughout the area and can provide professional opinions and guidance.
If you know someone moving to the Philadelphia region, I can help! I have my NJ and PA real estate license which comes in handy when helping Philly work based individuals and families. Contact me today!
