Moving is both an exciting and scary time. While you're probably looking forward to a new house, new friends, and a new commercial property mortgage, you'll be leaving behind your old life, and that may make you feel a little blue. It can be tempting to just jump right in and get it over with, but we're not talking about swimming here. Relocation is definitely a situation where you need to get your toes wet first. How do you do that? You research. Here are some of the things you should know about your new hometown before you leave.
Real Estate Prices
This is the one that most people actually do remember: to check and see if you can afford to live in your dream city. Statistics websites run by governments and real estate agents' unions are generally a good source for ballpark figures. However, if you really want to know what you personally can afford in the hippest neighborhood, you'll want to sit down and have a chat with a real estate agent.
Community
It's easy to get swept away by a city's architecture or tourist attractions, but before you jump into a move take some time to get to know the people who will be your neighbors. Who lives in those London, ON townhouses you had your eye on? Young single professionals? Low income workers? Families with children? Immigrants? Retirees? Drug dealers? Whoever they are, you should feel comfortable around them.
Job Market
If you're going to be buying a new home, you're also going to need a way to pay off your new mortgage. Search job websites like Workopolis for firms in your new city with openings in your field. Then contact some employment firms or job banks to look at their openings. The object here is to find out how likely it will be that you'll find a job in your field that is capable of supporting you in the lifestyle you want to live.
Culture
This isn't so much a problem if you're from Calgary and you're looking at homes for sale in Ontario as it is if you're going to be moving to, say, Hong Kong or Germany. Make sure you'll be able to get by in whatever language they speak. Familiarize yourself with local customs and with national immigration laws to make sure you'll be let into the country and will fit in when you get there. Thank you so much to Coach John Ferguson and his team of runners for supporting our website.
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