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Whether you are moving to a new state or simply want a second home or vacation home, you may be struggling with the idea of how to find a home in a city where you don’t live. Long-distance house hunting or apartment hunting is certainly more difficult in an area you aren’t familiar with, but with the right resources, it can be easier to make a decision that’s right for you.

Here are a few tips to help you with your long-distance house hunting:

Know the purpose and duration of your stay:  Are you moving because you have a job that you plan on keeping for a while?  Are you a snowbird, only escaping to this location during winter months?  Is this a vacation home that you plan on using just a few times a year?  Once you narrow down the purpose of having a place to stay in a particular area and you know how much time you’ll be spending there, it’s easier to know what to look for.  You may find that before making a permanent decision, renting may be more appropriate if you’d like more time to get to know the area.  

Tap your resources:
 It’s important to do your homework and research as much as you can, using all of the resources handy to do so.

• Friends and Family – You don’t have to know someone in your new city; simply reach out to all friends and family because they might know someone who is familiar with the area and can make recommendations.  They can help you pinpoint neighborhoods, suggest a good real estate agent and give you tips on how to enjoy your new location. If your move is job-related, ask your new co-workers about the best places to live as well the commute time you can expect.

• The Internet – Pretty much everything is available on the web these days, and it makes sense to dedicate time to online research. You can find out basic city statistics, local taxes, crime data and more.  If quality schools are a requirement, you can find reviews from parents and compare district rankings. Wondering if you need a car every time you need to go to the pharmacy? If you’re interested in knowing if your city’s amenities are walkable, check out Walk Score’s list of the top walkable cities, or plug in your own zip code. Visit the websites of local news stations, newspapers and radio stations.  You’ll become more familiar with the territory and get a jumpstart on the news that’s important to the area’s residents.

• Professionals – If you’re looking for a house, find a real estate agent that can help you narrow your search to the area and types of homes you prefer.  If you’d like to start with a temporary place, you can go online and read apartment reviews and compare amenities. While it’s convenient to go on a virtual tour of a property online, keep in mind web searches may not give you the full scope of information you are looking for. Call property managers and realtors to establish a relationship and receive more personalized results.  Many professionals have a Facebook or Twitter account that you can follow to find out the latest listings and open houses.

Prepare to travel (at least once):
 Once you’ve done some research and communicated with a real estate professional, you should schedule a trip to take a look at your narrowed list in-person. If you only have a few days to spare, bring all of your notes and research with you, so you can have as much information handy when you compare properties.

Long-distance house hunting doesn’t mean you have to feel like a foreigner who doesn’t speak the language. By networking with friends, relatives and coworkers, you can get recommendations for everything from the best schools to the best pizza place. Use the Internet for preliminary research, and contact professionals who have first-hand knowledge of the area to find a place that meets your needs and budget.

If you have any tips or advice, we’d love to hear from you!

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