Relocating? Find out if renting first makes sense for you

by Jill Heineck, Associate Broker
Heineck & Company @ Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road

You’re making a great career move and taking a plum position in beautiful, vibrant metro Atlanta. Congratulations!

The next step is finding your new home. With no lack of desirable areas – Brookhaven and Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, to name a few – your Realtor® should be able to find you the perfect house to buy, right? Not necessarily, at least not right away.

That’s when renting temporarily might be the smart way to go. Here are a few things to consider to help you understand why and when it might make sense.

Know what you’re looking for in a home – and a Realtor.

Resist the temptation to buy because you love the house and your move is imminent. Over time, you or your spouse might grow far less fond of the 90-minute commute to and from work that comes with it. Think about the neighborhood and surrounding areas: Are the amenities and services you and your family want and need readily available?

Quality of life issues like these make the difference between finding a house and finding a home. And they should be top of mind for the Realtor® working on your behalf. He or she should be seeking to really understand your lifestyle and your personal and financial goals, and how available properties will – or won’t – help you achieve them.

Sometimes, though, the timing of a relocation and the availability of ideal homes aren’t in synch. What then? Don’t be surprised if temporarily renting comes up. A Realtor®  who has your best interest in mind will help you explore this alternative rather than see you feel pressure and settle on buying a house that is anything less than home.