How to decide where to live?

[whusurdadi]

In the orthodox jewish community, everyone lives within a 3-4 mile radius, since we don't drive on Sabbath, we have to be able to get to synagogue/friends/etc.
Therefore, the prices of houses in the jewish areas are through the roof - you really have no choice

.
My house cost $400k because of it's location - if I (theoretically) moved my house a mile down the road, it would probably be closer to $200K!
I was wondering, how do you guys decide where to live? There's so many decent neighborhoods/nice areas around suburban Baltimore, and why would you pick one over another?
What makes an area more desirable?

 

[TylerDurden]

Climate and things that I enjoy are close by. I like the beach/ocean and or mountains/forrest and enjoy doing outdoor stuff. It mostly comes down to, at the end of my day, where would I want to spend my time relaxing and enjoying life? Name that place, and thats where you want to live.

Make a list of things to avoid, and that you want.

Avoid:
-High Crime rates
-Pollution
-Ect

Want:
-Beach
-A ski mountain close by
-Ect

As well as cost of living. I have to be able to afford living there and be able to get a job. I don't want to have to work 100 million hours a week just to live in my dream spot, as I'd be working all the time and never get to enjoy it.

 

[JohnGalt]

Originally Posted by whusurdadi

I was wondering, how do you guys decide where to live? There's so many decent neighborhoods/nice areas around suburban Baltimore, and why would you pick one over another?
What makes an area more desirable?

I'll be interested to see this thread progress since I'm new to the area. My current location is based solely on proximity to my office, but I will be looking to move probably early next year.

 

[Milhouse]

Is this more in general, like which country to live in, which city to live in, etc. . .

Or, more specific, like which neighborhood/street/building etc to live in?

Specific things come down to ease of daily life. I want access to the subway, walking distance to the grocery store, to shopping areas, to parks, bars, restaurants, etc. I'd prefer walking distance to work, but as long as it isn't more than 15 or 20 minutes away by whatever transportation, I'm pretty happy.

I prefer places I can live without a car. . . I like having a car only for pleasure. I hate NEEDING a car.

Cost of living in that area plays a factor, as you mentioned with home prices/rent, etc.

 

[yachtie]

Minimal commute.

 

[Milhouse]

Also, to add, I prefer places where I don't need a car, BUT I am able to have one (e.g. can afford to have one).

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Climate and things that I enjoy are close by. I like the beach/ocean and or mountains/forrest and enjoy doing outdoor stuff. It mostly comes down to, at the end of my day, where would I want to spend my time relaxing and enjoying life? Name that place, and thats where you want to live.

Make a list of things to avoid, and that you want.

Avoid:
-High Crime rates
-Pollution
-Ect

Want:
-Beach
-A ski mountain close by
-Ect

As well as cost of living. I have to be able to afford living there and be able to get a job. I don't want to have to work 100 million hours a week just to live in my dream spot, as I'd be working all the time and never get to enjoy it.

This exactly does not describe Phoenix.

 

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

This exactly does not describe Phoenix.

Do you live in Phoenix?

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Do you live in Phoenix?
No, but I've been there. The only thing even close to your want list is a ski mountain. But that's either two hours north or south. You said you live in Phoenix in another thread.

 

[madaboutshirt]

Originally Posted by whusurdadi

My house cost $400k because of it's location - if I (theoretically) moved my house a mile down the road, it would probably be closer to $200K!

Why wouldn't you do that and save yourself $200k? What's 1 mile?

 

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

No, but I've been there. The only thing even close to your want list is a ski mountain. But that's either two hours north or south. You said you live in Phoenix in another thread.

Oh, I don't live where I want to live at this moment in time.

 

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Oh, I don't live where I want to live at this moment in time.

To hot otherwise it might be all right.

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Oh, I don't live where I want to live at this moment in time.

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

To hot otherwise it might be all right.

Gotcha.

 

[captainmo]

I've been thinking about this a lot. I'm graduating college next May. I'm studying engineering, so I should have a lot of job prospects. There are 2 places where I could stay at home and work (where I interned last summer and where I'm interning now) for a year or so to pay off loans and then move somewhere closer to the place of employment.

However, I wouldn't want to be at either of these 2 places long term. I currently live in northern MD. I've thought about moving south....any where from Annapolis down to maybe North Carolina, maybe out west. I've even thought about moving to a completely different country.

Does anybody have experience making major changes, moving to a different state or country?

 

[gdl203]

Pretty simply: a neighborhood I enjoy hanging in and being a part of. I love being able to walk out and get anything I want in an area that keeps me interested. I can't really imagine what life wouuld be like if I had to take a car for everything.