People move for a variety of reasons, such as a new job, change in marital status, retirement, or to be closer to family. Whatever the reason, there are a number of things to consider before making a move. Here are the top 10 factors to consider when relocating.

Number 10: Moving

It costs a lot of money to move, anywhere from $1,000 - $10,000 depending on your circumstances. For some there are mortgage closing costs to pay, moving costs such as hiring movers or renting a truck, utility connection fees, repairs to your existing residence, plus repairs and decorating at your new place. With new construction, right off the bat there are costs like putting up a mailbox or adding window coverings.

Oftentimes the biggest moving expense is paying for two places at once. If you buy a new home before your old home sells, or if you were a tenant and you can’t get out of your lease, you’ll be stuck paying for both places for a while.

Number 9: Dues and Fees

When contemplating a move, it's important to consider any dues or fees you may need to pay at your new place. Condominiums and new construction are notorious for this. These dues and fees go by acronyms like HOA, POA, and CDD, which stand for homeowners association, property owners association, and community development district. The costs can be significant; it’s not unusual for condominium fees to be a few hundred dollars each month.

Number 8: Pets

Our furry friends are part of the family and deserve to be considered when contemplating a move. Perhaps a story might be a good way to illustrate this point. 

Imagine you are sitting in traffic one evening on your way home from work and it occurs to you that you would already be home if you lived in one of those high-rise condominiums downtown. The ads make them look so glamorous. Without a great deal of thought, you toss caution to the wind and trade your house in the suburbs for a new condo in the city. 

As you’re unpacking at your new place, your dog runs up and sits down beside you. That’s odd, you think, what’s with the urgent look on his face? Then it dawns on you. At the house he did his business in a fenced-in backyard. In fact, with the doggy door you didn’t have to get involved in the process at all. Now every time he needs to relieve himself, you have to put him on a leash and take him down the elevator to an unpleasant little patch of grass where all the other residents walk their dogs. Why didn’t they say anything about that in the glossy brochures?

Number 7: Taxes

Taxes differ by locale; some states have income taxes and others do not. Some states tax Social Security retirement benefits while others let it slide. Do your research before relocating to a different state.

Number 6: Interest Rates

Another consideration is the interest rate on your current mortgage. If you bought your home during a period of low interest rates and rates have since risen, you are giving up something of value. The interest rate on a mortgage has a big impact on monthly payments.

Number 5: Neighborhood

With the number of free crime reporting sites available today, there is no excuse for moving into a bad neighborhood. If you are contemplating a move to a city that you’re unfamiliar with, take the time to do your homework before you go house-hunting. 

Every major U.S. city has neighborhoods that rival war zones in terms of shootings and other violent crime. Be wise when choosing where you live and don’t fall for the quaint historic neighborhood located a few blocks from urban blight. Most cities have a number of areas that fit this description. Criminals have no problem walking a few blocks to commit crime.

Number 4: Family

If you move away you can make new friends but you can’t make new family members. How often do you think you will visit relatives left behind? How much does it cost for you and your family to make a roundtrip? How will those travel costs affect your budget? You should be asking yourself these kind of questions if you are contemplating a move.

Number 3: Location

If you are considering a move to a different part of the country, you should research the weather, career opportunities, cost of living, work commute, access to quality healthcare, crime rates, schools, and political leanings. Are you thinking of exchanging urban for rural, or the other way around? That kind of move can have a huge impact on your family’s happiness.

Number 2: Children

Our children's wellbeing is important and must be considered when making a move. Does the location you are considering have good schools? What is their reputation? Is it easy for your children to make new friends? What impact do you think the move will have on their emotional wellbeing?

Number 1: Spouse or Partner

In our countdown of the top 10 factors to consider when relocating, we have reached number one and it’s a biggy: your spouse or partner. You simply cannot expect to have a happy home if the decision to relocate is made unilaterally. You both have to be 100 percent onboard and invested in it. 

Discuss it ad nauseam, look at it from every angle. Investigate, explore, challenge, and don’t stop until you have all the answers. Both of you have to be in it together, because if you’re not you are setting yourself up for the biggest “I told you so” ever.

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