You have been searching for the perfect home and you think you found it! It has the perfect amount of square footage, is close to amenities that matter to you, in a great school district, and it is a price you can actually afford. Where do you sign? Not so fast! There is still one thing to consider…your commute. No one wants to commit to a mortgage to find out that traveling to and from home is enough to make you want to pull your hair out.
If you are moving to a new area of town or moving in from out of state I advise taking the time to travel your commute to school, work, day care, and any combination of these that you will be making on a frequent basis. You will get the best idea of what your future “day-to-day” will be like if you carve out the time to make your commute during the time of day that you intend to travel it. As you make the drive (or bus) imagine doing it 5 days a week. Is it worth it? You may find that even though you are a short distance from where you need to go it may take you more time than you want to get there. Or, maybe the house is so great that those extra 10 minutes are worth it.
In addition, mapping out your commute time may assist you if you are trying to decide on two or more homes.
If you can’t find the time to make the commute consider keeping an eye on local traffic websites during the times that you plan to travel. They can be a great tool to help gauge traffic levels and drive times.
Life has enough surprises in it already. Take the time to do your homework and your commute does not have to be one of them.
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