Just because you love visiting a particular city on vacation, it doesn’t mean it will be a perfect place to live. While some vacation destinations (like Orlando, for instance) actually provide a favorable cost of living, this article from Shelbi Austin of U.S. News highlights some factors to consider before turning your vacation town into your new hometown.
Have you ever taken a vacation somewhere and thought to yourself, “I wish I could live here”? The fact is, you could live in that vacation destination, but your brief experience spent as a tourist may not be the same as that of a resident.
When considering where they really want to live, people may not recognize what they actually need in order to move and live somewhere comfortably.
To help determine if your favorite vacation destination would make a great hometown, here are some things to consider before moving and committing to a life as a full-time resident and not just a part-time visitor.
Compare cost of living and the housing market. Vacations allow you to experience and see the best parts of a city. You get to leave behind the stresses of your everyday routine, only needing the funds, accommodations and travel arrangements for that short period of time you’re away. Home and rental costs can get pretty high in just about any major metro area, especially near the city center, leaving the more affordable housing located outside of the tourist zone, in the suburbs. If you’re considering moving down south to Orlando, Florida (No. 16 most desirable), you’ll find housing costs to be about $188,250 which is slightly lower than the national average.
Visit in the off-season. Prior to purchasing a home, potential homebuyers should plan to visit the location, possibly multiple times. This period of stay will provide a brief experience of what there is to expect if the homebuyer decides to commit to living there for years to come. Be sure to experience the area in the off-season, a time when tourists are the least likely to visit. Those less populated months will uncover those less marketable or unappealing qualities, such as unfavorable weather patterns, closed local attractions and nearly empty social spots.
Ensure job availability. Many hot vacation spots have specific industries that keep their economies stable – especially tourism and hospitality. Future homeowners should research the most popular industries within a given city and consider the job opportunities that may or may not be available to them.
