Americans are on the move. Recent housing market fluctuations and economic conditions have prompted many Americans to relocate. Some relocate to find employment or meet job requirements. Others are (sadly) losing homes to foreclosure and looking for a new start. Some are finding affordable housing as a result of the slow housing market in new locations. Believe it or not, there are some who simply seek new and better surroundings.
People choose different locations for different reasons at different stages of their lives.
Whether you're moving to a new community by chance or by choice, the transition can require a long period of stressful adjustment. There are ways to minimize the stress and prepare you and your family for life in a new neighborhood.
Tap Into Technology
If you have decided to move to a specific location (such as in the case of a job transfer), it's a good idea to become familiar with your new surroundings before you make any decisions about housing or local location.
The Internet is a wonderful, wonderful tool that can take you places without ever having to leave your home. Take full advantage of the tools the Internet offers. Start by contacting a real estate agent who can act as a "virtual guide" and, later, a location guide.
A real estate agent can be your best friend in this situation. Real estate agents are generally very well connected and can provide you with quality community information in an instant. Peruse your agent's website for local information and links that will help you evaluate:
Communities and neighborhoods
Recreational opportunities
Climate and geography
Commerce and local economy
Education
Social settings
Housing markets
Local demographics
Utilities
And more!
Your real estate agent can provide you with external local website links that will help you provide in-depth information.
Nearly every incorporated city and some unincorporated communities feature websites with helpful information. Simply access your favorite search engine and type in the name of the city. You may get more accurate results by using quotation marks around the name of the city (especially if the city name includes more than one word), for example, "Salt Lake City, Utah" or "Salt Lake City, UT". Be sure to use the name of the state in your search. Look for official websites with a ".gov" or ".org" extension. You can also type in questions such as, "In what county is Salt Lake City located?"
Local chambers of commerce are almost always willing to send relocation packets with selected information including visitor guides and local resources. Often their websites feature links that allow you to request a relocation packet online. Some charge a minimal fee.
If you are still deciding where you want to live, there are many public and private enterprise websites that compare communities and offer demographic information on multiple communities.
U.S. Census Bureau - www.census.gov
The U.S. Census Bureau is a great source of information. Be forewarned that smaller communities may only feature information based on the most recent complete census conducted in 2000. There are many different data sets available through the U.S. Census Bureau including:
The Decennial Census taken every 10 years to collect information about the people and housing of the United States.
American Community Survey - an ongoing survey that provides data about communities every year.
Puerto Rico Community Survey - the equivalent of the American Community Survey for Puerto Rico
Population Estimates Program - population numbers between censuses
Economic Census - profiles the U.S. economy every 5 years
Annual Economic Surveys - data from the Annual Survey of Manufactures, County Business Patterns and Nonemployer Statistics
You will also find:
American Indian and Alaska Native data and links
FastFacts for Congress - Demographic and economic data for Congressional Districts
Kids' Corner - Learn fun facts about your state and take a quiz
CNNMoney.com (Money Magazine) - money.cnn.com
Each year Money Magazine conducts a study of America's small towns and compares them to other small towns throughout the country. The information provided by this source is more subjective than hard statistics provided by the U.S. government, but its also more user-friendly and in some cases more in-depth. The information is somewhat limited depending on the towns studied in a given year. Money Magazine Places a high value on strong economy, education, low crime, affordable housing, etc.
Wikipedia - wikipedia.org
Wikipedia is a multilingual, Web-based, free-content encyclopedia. You will find information on many states, counties, cities and towns, and counties on Wikipedia. Remember Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers from all over the world. Anyone with access to the internet can make changes to its articles. On this site you will find information about demographic (usually based on the most recent decennial census), history, geography, climate and more.
Sperling's Best Places - www.bestplaces.net/
Sperling's Best Places is another good private site that compares community features and gives readers an inside look at the best features of many communities. Here you'll find information about the cost of living, crime, education, the economy, population, climate and more.
Where to Retire -- wheretoretire.com
If you're ready to retire and are looking for a new location, Where to Retire can help you analyze different areas armed with information. Where to Retire strives to be America's foremost authority on retirement relocation.
Relocating to a new area is a monumental event! Choose the right location and know the location before you actually make your move.
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