Sometimes it happens that you need to move to a new residence for reasons beyond your control. This may be due to job requirements such as a transfer or promotion, or being closer to (or sometimes further away from) family members. But most of the time, when homeowners move it is due to their own needs or wants.

One of the most common reasons a homeowner needs to move is because of a change in family structure; This can be something positive, like a marriage or a new child in the family, or something negative, like a death or divorce. Some family changes will require more space, such as a new baby or elderly relative moving in with you, or may cause you to need less space, such as your children growing up and leaving home to go to school or get married.

Unless you already live in a house that is larger or smaller than you need, these types of changes are usually a good indicator that you should start looking for a new home. While some of these family-changing events may occur without prior knowledge of the event, there is usually prior knowledge of the changes to come; use the time wisely before the event actually takes place. Interview real estate agents, make a list of wants and needs for your new living space, and if it’s an addition to the family you’re compensating for, try to move in before the happy event. It can be very difficult to move around if you have a new baby.

Another reason you might be looking to move is if the neighborhood you originally bought in no longer meets your needs. Neighborhoods are fluid things; if you live in the same area for ten or even five years, the neighborhood is likely to change for better or worse. One common way neighborhoods can change is development, which can create more noise, traffic, pollution, or remove features that drew you to the area in the first place, such as green space. Another common change in neighborhoods, especially in areas that have seen many foreclosures and subsequent real estate vacancies, is general decline; this could take the form of vandalism or increased crime in your area.

Another reason homeowners sometimes decide to move is because they are dissatisfied with the house they live in. Sometimes this is really a matter of a resident living in a house that is not well suited to their lifestyle, but sometimes it is a matter of the homeowner being generally dissatisfied with other aspects of life. of the. If this is your situation, then it’s a good idea to sit down and make a list of the things you’d like to have in a new home so that they suit you better and you can really see if a change of scenery is what you need. or if it would be more effective to renew.