Moving to a new city or town can be an exciting and transformative experience, but it’s crucial to ensure it’s the right fit for your lifestyle before you actually move there. Rather than approaching your pre-move visit as a typical tourist, it’s essential to delve deeper into the local lifestyle. By seeing the city through the eyes of someone living there, you’ll gain valuable insights and make an informed decision about your potential new home. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through my location scouting tips. You’ll learn how to explore a city like a local, focus on immersive experiences, explore neighborhoods, and embrace everyday local activities.

Recap of the How to Decide Where to Live Series 

Before you begin your location scouting journey, I want to review how we got here. In case you haven’t seen all of my How to Decide Where to Live series. See the recap below.

Part 1: Develop empathy for your current location. 

Part 2: Align your life goals with your location goals. 

Part 3: Discover your Location Must Haves. 

Part 4: Decide on four cities that have most of your Location Must Haves. 

I think it’s a TERRIBLE idea to move somewhere blindly. So now that you have established four places that meet YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS, it’s time to go visit them. Let the location scouting begin! 

Determine Your Location Scouting Timeline 

You will first need to determine how long you can stay during your location scouting trip. If you work remotely, I recommend a month, but I know that option isn’t available to everyone. If you can, try for a week. But if there is absolutely no way to do that either then a weekend will suffice.   

Location Scouting Research

Thorough location scouting can save you from future regrets. Take the time to research and experience different neighborhoods to make the best choice for your new place to live. In Part 4, you did high level research but today, you’ll be focused on the nitty gritty.

Research Real Estate Trends  

It wouldn’t be location scouting if you didn’t crunch some numbers. I know this can feel like jumping the gun. But there is no point in falling in love with a neighborhood that you simply can’t afford. A crucial aspect to consider is the real estate market. Start by exploring real estate websites to assess what properties are available within your budget.

If you plan to buy a property, analyzing property value trends is super important. Understanding whether home prices are rising, stable, or declining in the neighborhood will help you make a good investment choice. Furthermore, these trends provide valuable insights into the neighborhood’s history and potential. Which indicate factors such as funding for schools and parks based on property tax rates.

Although property values alone do not reveal the whole picture, they are an essential factor to consider. Especially when looking at long-term investment prospects. Remember that low property values do not necessarily equate to an unfavorable living environment, but it’s worth examining them as part of your neighborhood research.

Real Estate Resources 

1. Realtor.com provides a user-friendly map view to help you find your ideal neighborhood. Simply search by city or zip code to explore various layers of information. Their map displays home values, housing market movement, school ratings, available homes for sale, and top-ranked businesses. Additionally, you can access neighborhood-level crime data.

2. HAR.com is another valuable resource for evaluating your desired neighborhoods. By entering the neighborhood’s name in the search field, you’ll be presented with a dynamic snapshot of the housing market. HAR also shows a map with neighborhood boundaries and a list of nearby schools with ratings. You will also find and a directory of nearby attractions with ratings.
3. Trulia.com finds homes for sale and rental properties but also offers various map layers that make it an excellent resource for researching potential neighborhoods. In addition to schools and crime data, Trulia maps average commute times, fire risk, ratio of owner-occupied homes, FEMA Flood Zones, and more. It’s a highly valuable tool for thoroughly evaluating a potential neighborhood.

Location Scouting for Personal Needs 

Take into account essential aspects of your daily life. Things like proximity to public transportation, schools, healthcare facilities, etc.  Remember that you may not always find options exactly where you hope to be. However, getting as close as possible to your preferences will undoubtedly be beneficial.

Embrace the city’s local transportation options to get around. Walking or cycling allows you to soak in the atmosphere. You will notice details and stumble upon hidden gems you might have missed if you were driving.

The proximity to your workplace can significantly impact your daily commute, affecting your overall quality of life. To get a better understanding of the commute experience, it’s a good idea to do a practice commute. Whether you opt for a car, bike, walk, or public transit, physically experiencing the route during the times you’ll be traveling to or from work will provide valuable insights.

Pay attention to the things you notice along the way. Also notice the potential obstacles like school zones or heavily trafficked streets with frequent traffic lights. If you’re accustomed to grabbing coffee or breakfast on your way to work, check if those options are available along the route. This is location scouting at its finest! 

If you’re considering public transit, gauge the crowdedness at the times you’ll be commuting. You will need to decide whether you’ll have a comfortable commute amidst the crowds. Remember location scouting is all about determining if you will be happy with daily life in your new city. 

For remote workers, it’s essential to consider alternative options as well. If you’ll be working from home, it’s still worth scoping out nearby coworking spaces. Even though the convenience of working from home is appealing, a coworking space can provide a productive and dynamic work environment. That can include access to amenities and networking opportunities. A well-suited coworking space can enhance your remote work experience. You will want to foster a sense of community while maintaining the flexibility of working from a convenient location.

I work at this really cool women only coworking spot in ATL called the Lola. You can probably find something oddly specific to your needs too. You just gotta look. 

Resources for Personal Needs

1.  Walkscore.com is an essential tool for assessing the “walkability” of a potential neighborhood. By entering an address, you’ll receive a Walk Score on a scale of 1 to 100. This number indicates the number of destinations within walking distance. You can also get information on biking and driving as well.
2. HomeFair.com offers a straightforward approach to accessing essential information by Zip code without flashy mapping features. This site is perfect for those who prefer to focus on the most critical data. Best part? It’s all available for free. You can find school reports, vital statistics, and a cost of living comparison at the Zip code level.

Research Safety

When location scouting, it’s natural to be concerned about crime rates. Be sure to approach crime statistics with context. You will not find a neighborhood entirely devoid of crime. It’s important to consider the statistics in relation to population density. Areas with higher populations often experience more crime, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will face a high risk personally. 

By using these resources, you can make a more informed decision about the safety of a neighborhood before making your move. 

1. Niche.com is a comprehensive site that offers detailed neighborhood reports for communities across the country. When you look up a major city, you can access a map of neighborhoods and explore each neighborhood’s profile. Niche uniquely assigns an overall grade (e.g., A, B+, C-) to each city and neighborhood based on factors like schools, quality of life, housing, nightlife, outdoor activities, and more. Additionally, users can leave reviews for neighborhoods using a five-star system, providing diverse perspectives before making an investment.
2. City-Data is one of the original and still one of the best neighborhood finders, despite its old-school layout. It offers a wealth of information for various cities or towns. Presenting a map with a plethora of statistics like election results, house heating fuels, percentage of government workers, air pollution, and much more. The site also provides numerous charts detailing weather, crime, demographics, real estate, local industry, and more.
3. Cityprotect.com allows you to explore the crime data in a specific location. You might even be able to help solve a case! Not typically something I’d typically suggest while location scouting but could be really cool! 🙂 
4. Areavibes.com aggregates crime information for specific localities, giving you a starting point to assess the safety of potential neighborhoods.
5. Familywatchdog.us allows you to check for registered sex offenders in the area. 

Research Local Activities

 Consider your hobbies and interests when choosing an area. Opt for neighborhoods that offer activities and amenities aligned with your preferences. Consider what you like to do in your spare time. Choose an area that offers activities or amenities aligned with your interests.

Resources for Activities 

1. Hoodmaps.com offers a more biased and humorous perspective on local areas. Users can tag areas on the map with labels like “Hipsters,” “Rich,” “Suits,” “Students,” “Normies,” and “Tourists.” The site also includes specific and highly judgmental descriptors, adding a fun and quirky element to neighborhood exploration.
2. Meetup.com is a social media platform for hosting and organizing in-person and virtual activities. Check it out for some fun local events.

Location Scouting with Locals 

When location scouting, it’s beneficial to connect with friends who might already be living there. It will be immensely easier to live near someone you know as long as their neighborhood passes the vibe check. 

Your location scouting research should go beyond the internet. If you don’t have any friends in the city, try to connect with a local on the internet. Pick their brain about the pros and cons of the neighborhoods and whether they would recommend it.  Be specific. Ask questions that align with your Location Must Haves. Ask about noise levels if you prefer a quiet living environment. Inquire about the local business community and networking opportunities if that’s of interest to you. Insights from current and former residents can provide invaluable information that might be challenging to acquire through other means. 

Local Resources 

1. Reddit.com is a must-visit resource for anyone heading to a new town or city. Simply search the Reddit homepage to find the local subreddit, which often contains FAQs. There’s also informative threads about the best places to live and what to expect as a new local. While some cities may have more active communities than others, posting a new thread with your questions will usually yield helpful and forthcoming responses from other users, offering insights into the various parts of town you are considering.
2. Nextdoor.com is an app that allows where you connect to the neighborhoods that matter to you so you can belong. Neighbors around the world turn to Nextdoor daily to receive trusted information. Give and get help, get things done, and build real-world connections with those nearby — neighbors, businesses, and public services.
3. Facebook Groups are a great way to meet locals!

Create Your Location Scouting Itinerary and Immerse Yourself 

Rather than spending all your time in the downtown area, venture into different neighborhoods. Explore residential areas, local farmer’s markets, and community spaces. Notice the unique characteristics of each neighborhood and envision yourself living there.

1. Go Grocery Shopping: One of the best ways to experience a city like a local is by visiting local grocery stores or farmers’ markets. Observe the products on the shelves, the food people buy, and the shopping habits. Engage in small talk with locals and ask for recommendations on their favorite food spots.
2. Seek Out Community Events:Check local event listings and attend community gatherings, art exhibitions, or cultural festivals. These events provide excellent opportunities to connect with residents.

3. Dine Where Locals Do: Avoid touristy restaurants and opt for eateries where locals frequent. Explore street food stalls, family-owned restaurants, and popular hangouts. Be adventurous and try traditional dishes that are unique to the city. Consider visiting local parks, libraries, and cafes to see where locals unwind.
4. Attend Meetups or Classes: Find meetups or classes related to your interests or hobbies. Whether it’s a yoga class, photography meetup, or a book club, participating in these activities can lead to meaningful connections with locals who share your passions.

Capture the Everyday during your Location Scouting

While it’s tempting to focus on the city’s famous landmarks, don’t forget to capture the everyday scenes. Thing like locals chatting in a park, children playing in the streets, or street performers showcasing their talents. These moments offer authentic insights into the city’s soul.

Thoroughly examining the intricacies of a neighborhood before moving there can prevent potential headaches in the future. I hope you have found my advice throughout this city to be helpful. My goal was to help you understand the importance of personalizing your decision of where to live.

Keep in mind that not every town or neighborhood is perfect. However, I hope you feel equipped with enough information to get you started on your location scouting journey.

At the end of the day, where you choose to live should FEEL like home. Not enough research in the world can help you with that. Listen to your gut and make the decision that is best for you! 

And please, tell me all about it! 🙂