What part of the U.S. is right for you and your family? 

When entering the real estate market, one of the biggest questions home-buyers often have is where to live.  Whether you're moving to start a new job, be closer to family, or make a fresh start in a new location, it's important to research the potential places in which you may want to live.  A number of factors go into this consideration, including the mobility of your family (how easy will it be to move everyone?), your work situation, financial stability, and the desired features of your new location.  We'll go into more depth on these concerns shortly.  First, let's look at some of the most sought-after U.S. locales. 

One strategy for researching places to live is to seek out published rankings of different locations, many of which are published annually by top financial outlets and the real estate industry.  According to Money magazine's 2009 "Best Places to Live," the top five are Louisville, Colorado; Chanhassen, Minnesota; Papillion, Nebraska; Middleton, Wisconsin; and Milton, Massachusetts.  Louisville, Colorado, was cited as number one in this list for its resiliency in the face of the current economic downturn, in addition to its highly rated school system and close proximity to the majestic Rocky Mountains, with Rocky Mountain National Park less than an hour away.  The magazine also ranked locations according to specific search criteria like the housing market, financial situation, and quality of life.   

When researching where to live, though, try not to rely solely on lists such as the above.  It's important to remember that many subjective factors come into play in compiling these lists, and your definition of "quality of life" may not mesh with those of a magazine's editors.  For example, Kiplinger's 2009 list varies markedly from that of Money, and they placed a significant amount of emphasis on economic factors in their decision-making process.  Their top five were Huntsville, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Washington, D.C.; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Athens, Georgia.  Kiplinger named Huntsville for its strong economy but also for its prospering medical and life-sciences industries and proximity to mountain views, an historic downtown, and a beautiful botanical garden.   

Ultimately, though, the decision rests in your hands.  You must carefully consider each of the many factors that go in to deciding where to live.  Think about the following questions, and use them as prompts to get yourself thinking about which places you want to be at the top of your list.  What parts of the country are you interested in?  What climate(s) appeals to you most?  What is most important to you in a city or town?  Is your financial situation secure?  Are you going to have work lined up when you move?  Have you set aside emergency funds in case an unplanned accident or situation occurs?  If you have children, how disruptive will such a move be for them?  Answering and thinking about questions such as these will get you thinking about your priorities and what is important to you as you begin the process of moving. 

Moving to a new city or town is an exciting time.  Seek out as much information as you can so you're able to make the most informed decision about where to go.  Perhaps you have a friends or family members who live near to where you'd like to go.  Ask for advice and learn from their experiences living there.  Getting this kind of information, along with that gained from researching potential places through reputable sources, will help you to make the best decision before you embark on this new path in life. 

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