There are myriad reasons why a move might suddenly be on the table—a new business opportunity, job relocation, a long-distance relationship where the distance is no longer sustainable, or simply a desire to reinvent oneself.
Moving involves many variables, each unique to your situation. A couple looking to retire and play golf every day is unlikely to land in the same town as one with young kids and tech or pharmaceutical jobs in RTP.
Thus, the process of moving is best divided into component parts, and ultimately means figuring out answers to questions you might never have asked. Are you a small-town or big-town personality? Is walkability a critical factor? Is an elite high school ranking a non-negotiable point? Would living in a college town rejuvenate your youthful energy, or make you feel old? How important is it to be close to RDU airport? A top-notch hospital? Great hiking and biking trails?
If you’re a color-coded spreadsheet person, this is a task for you. Start your deep dive, and slowly the move with come into focus. You may be a portrait of self-reliance. That’s fine. In my opinion, it’s never too early to connect with a local realtor. You’ll get personal anecdotes and insights that Chat GPT alone can’t provide.
As with many aspects of daily life, Covid left an indelible mark on the real estate industry. People who never would have dreamed of buying a house without stepping foot inside suddenly found themselves with no alternative. Overnight, realtors became the de facto eyes and ears for their clients. I routinely drove around subdivisions, narrating as I went, uploading virtual home tours for out-of-state buyers. I had clients from Portland, San Antonio, Florida and New York all buy homes sight unseen. Almost without question, this served to strengthen the skills of local real estate agents. More questions were being asked of us than ever before and “I don’t know” was simply not an acceptable answer.
If you’ve somehow ended up here, you’re already well on your way. Eventually, everyone hits a point of critical mass—when searching for homes on Zillow, wondering and dreaming about a new life—suddenly becomes real.