Plotting Your Next Move: Time to Head to the Suburbs?

The number one toughest question clients often ask is, “When is the right time to move to the suburbs?” Fortunately and unfortunately -- and depending on how you choose to look at things -- there is no data to provide the correct answer. The best advice?: ask yourself what you enjoy about the city, what you hate about city-living, what you expect to gain from moving to the suburbs -- and what you’ll miss the most.

For instance, if you suddenly find yourself with a 3-month-old baby, an 85-pound dog and a cat, 1,000 square feet on the second floor of a condo may start to feel a lot smaller than it did just a year or two ago. While that might mean you need more space, it doesn’t always have to translate into suburban living. Some folks don’t mind expanding their family a bit inside city limits, and just need more space. Others may not have kids yet, but are finally ready for a quieter lifestyle after years of moving around different urban locales.

Of course, not everyone chooses to live in the city during their life, and others may plan to never leave Boston, no matter what. However, if you’re residing in Boston Proper and are considering moving North, South or West, consider a couple of important factors.

Those factors vary drastically from buyer to buyer, but tend to all depend on the answers to these three important questions: 1) Where are you in your life right now? 2) Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years? And 3) Where are you coming from?

Now let’s dig a little deeper into each of these considerations:

1. Where are you in your life right now from a financial perspective, meaning what can you afford to buy? If you want 2,500 square feet, it is a lot more affordable in Framingham than it is in Needham, which is cheaper than Brookline or Back Bay. Where are you in your life right now from a family-perspective? Are you a single person who wants to take advantage of low mortgage rates or wants to start building equity because you’re frustrated with how the rents are? Are you married or in a serious relationship and moving in with a significant other and all of a sudden need more space? Do you have a pet that needs space to run around? Depending on how you respond, city living may be the better current option than trekking out to the “country.”
2. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years, which applies to more than just familial status and children? Do you see job growth in the near future and if so, is it a position that can move you out of the city or to a different area altogether? If you feel that having children means you should move to the suburbs (and by the way, many people live by this decree but just as many strongly disagree), do you have kids yet or expect them soon? More and more young families are choosing to stay in the city with a young child, often waiting until baby #2 arrives or the children are old enough to start kindergarten. It’s more common to see single people choosing to buy a condo in the city than a house in the suburbs, but there are many who want a house for themselves so they can entertain larger numbers of guests, be closer to work, and have a home to welcome in a future partner. No one has a crystal ball, so this 3-5 year outlook is simply a projection for all of us. While we don’t know exactly where we’ll be, for the sake of purchasing a home, it’s safe to be a little hopeful.
3. “Where are you coming from?” seems like the easiest question, but it is by far the most layered, and when dealing with a couple is usually the most difficult question. This does not simply mean “where are you currently living and what do you like/dislike about it?” It entails where you grew up, what your family background is, how you were raised and how you hope to raise your own kids. What did you appreciate and resent of your childhood, specifically in your home and surroundings? Most people feel strongly one way or the other about their childhood home, and when you have two people trying to build their own home together, the differences come out. Examples of this can be where you want to live (Needham or Marblehead), what type of house (new construction or antique colonial), top priorities (formal dining room or open modern design), or how many kids to you each want to have?

All of these add up to a “Wants -vs- Needs” list for a new home. For some buyers, an attached 2-car garage in necessary and a private fenced-in backyard is a must. For others, a deck or common outdoor space will suffice. Being able to walk to the “T” or to restaurants is a requirement for some, but others want an in-home office or playroom for kids. Once you have it written out in front of you, it becomes quite clear if you’re ready to relocate to the suburbs, or if you’re still a city person. There’s nothing wrong with going either way, so long as you know what makes sense for you and choose the area that fits your lifestyle best. And, nothing is forever. If your career or personal life takes an unexpected turn, you can always make a move down the road.

Personal preferences differ from buyer to buyer, family to family, and person to person. Once you have determined what you’re ideally looking for, connect with a reputable realtor who can help you pick the best town to suit your needs, and narrow down the search from there.