Do you sometimes review the real estate ads in your local

paper? Do you drive by an open house sign and feel the urge to

stop and check it out? Those are common indications that, at

least on some level, you’re thinking about the possibility of

making a move.

But how do you decide if you should actually move?

The first step is to consider whether there are any practical

reasons to consider buying a new home. What’s pushing you in

that direction?

• Is your current home too small for your needs?

• Is the commute to work, for you or your spouse, too long?

(Perhaps longer than you expected when you purchased

the home?)

• Are there property features you would now like to have,

such as a larger backyard or a more spacious kitchen?

• Has the neighborhood changed in an undesirable way?

• Do you have personal reasons for wanting to move, such as

a desire to be closer to relatives in another area?

Carefully consider those things that can’t change unless you

move. For example, if a major highway was recently built near

you, the ongoing sound of traffic isn’t going to go away. It’s now

part of the neighborhood.

If there are no practical reasons for moving, there may still be

other reasons for wanting a new home. You may want to move

your family to a better neighborhood, with better schools or you

may simply want a bigger home, with a larger backyard, more

rooms, and a wider driveway.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with simply wanting a better

place than the one you have now. In fact, that is a common

reason why many people make a move.

Shopping for the right neighborhood