3 Factors to Consider When Moving to Northern Virginia

By: Alexys James ... Click on author's name for more of their articles

Are you moving from a location where you spend 25% or less of your monthly income for mortgage/rent? Is your current commute to work approximately 20 minutes morning and evening? These are benefits to healthy living because they aren’t causing you stress. Moving to Northern Virginia may impact your budget and your happiness because of the cost of living. Critical factors to consider when relocating to Northern Virginia are cost of living, rent/mortgage, and commute. If your priority is to have a nice size home with acreage then you will not be happy unless you move further away resulting in a longer commute. You’ll be able to find more homes that are spacious with larger plots further away from the D.C Metropolitan area.

1. Rent/Mortgage: Currently, the housing market is at an advantage for renters/buyers therefore you possess negotiating power. Homeowners are motivated to rent /sell their home to reduce their monthly expenses. When considering where you want to live you need to ask yourself “When do I want to be home from work?” The commuting principle is the further you travel away from D.C Metropolitan area the cheaper the homes but greater the commute. If you don’t mind a 1-2 hour commute then I recommend living near a rail station if you don’t want to use your personal automobile.

2. Commute – Your commuting options are your personal vehicle, bus, train, or even bicycle. The Metro system is the regional bus and rail public transit system in the Washington, D.C. area, operating in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Commuting with your personal vehicle can be costly. Factors to continue are the gas costs, wear-and-tear costs, and vehicle depreciation. Consider the commuting costs and contact your employer to confirm if expenses are subsidized. There’s the option of carpooling/vanpooling usually coordinated through your employer. Slugging is an option; it’s a term that connects passengers with drivers (strangers). Passengers wait at a specific location for a driver that’s going in their direction. Lastly, you bicycle can be your tool to commute. There’s more to riding your bicycle then just riding in the park. Using your bicycle to commute, you’re required to adhere to traffic laws. Also, be prepared to ride during rush hour traffic and unpleasant weather. With those options your commute time will vary. Unless you live within one mile of your job you’re commute time can be a challenge.

3. Cost of living: Review the cost of living calculator to compare living cost and salary differential. This tool will provide you insight to make a good decision to relocate. Consider the following scenario. You’re single and living on $40,000 is it possible. It’s possible using strict budget techniques. Items to consider are groceries, utilities, gas, car maintenance, credit cards, savings, and any other bills you may have.

Cost of living change, rent/mortgage, and commute are critical factors to consider when relocating to Northern Virginia. Conduct a cost analysis so you can choose the best or most profitable option. Planning for this change will alleviate disappointment and prepare you for a smooth transition to Northern Virginia.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Alexys James created www.moving-2-northern-virginia.com to assist people who are moving to Northern Virginia. Moving 2 Northern Virginia provides helpful tips to assist in moving and living in Northern Virginia.

Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Alexys James

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