Pricey Suburbs Are Causing Bargain Hunters to Consider Rural Areas
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: August 13, 2022
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With inflation at an all-time high, the suburbs and big cities are seeing an exodus, and rural areas are the place to be. According to the real estate agent insights for summer 2022 survey released by Homelight, 95% of agents say itâs a sellerâs market, despite the low supply of houses.
If you are thinking about moving from a suburb to a rural one, you need to understand that your lifestyle will change. If you have children, you must ensure that you choose the best place to raise them.
Most importantly, you need to be sure that you are getting most of the value in exchange for your invested money. If youâre hoping to find a RealtorÂź who can help you find the rural home of your dreams, hereâs what you need to think about first.
Job Availability
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If youâre planning on moving to a rural area, you need to consider the job prospects. Even if youâre able to work remotely, what about the other household members? Will they be able to find work, or will it be difficult to find something within their skill set?
And, even if you are able to work remotely, is it full-time, or will you be expected to commute to the office periodically?
Income
When youâre considering moving to rural America, you need to consider your income. This isnât going to be a problem for those who can work remotely because, well, youâll have the same salary as when you lived in the city.
However, keep in mind that if other household members cannot work remotely and have to find a job nearby, that is likely to be a pay cut. Can you afford that cut in pay? Is that personâs income crucial to your familyâs survival?
Cost of Living
The cityâs cost of living is astronomical and seems only to worsen as inflation rises. However, the cost of living in rural America is nowhere near as high.
Unfortunately, when youâre considering moving to a rural area, youâre going to have to think of the cost of living in terms of the goods and services youâll have access to.
For example, you may have a strict diet that is relatively easy to follow when youâre in the city or suburbs. However, if youâre in rural America, youâre not going to have access to the same goods and services.
Likewise, rural areas often have older homes, which are less energy-efficient and would increase your energy costs compared to city living.
When youâre looking at rural areas, these are some things that you need to take into consideration because your bills may be significantly different than what youâre used to. Sometimes for the best, and sometimes not.
Transportation
Transportation, or access to transportation, is something that needs to be considered because rural areas arenât known for having accessible public transportation. Not only that, but itâs not uncommon for people who live in the city to not need a car.
If youâre going to a rural area, youâre going to need to consider new costs like car payments, car insurance, maintenance, gas, and the like.
Healthcare
Healthcare in the country isnât as great as it is, but access to quality healthcare in rural America is severely lacking. If you or someone in your household requires regular or specialized healthcare, this is certainly something youâll need to consider before buying property in a rural area.
Energy Cost
Energy prices consume a disproportionate share of household budgets in rural areas of the United States. In contrast to the national median of 3.3%, the energy burden in rural homes is 4.4%.
The situation is even worse for low-income rural households, where the median energy load is approximately three times that of higher-income counterparts.
The elderly, people of color, renters, and those living in multi-family and prefabricated home complexes are also disproportionately affected.
The share of revenue going toward energy costs is larger in rural areas than in metropolitan ones. Renting, low-income households, minorities, the elderly, and those living in multi-family or manufactured homes all pay significantly more than the rural median for housing.
The high energy loads of rural households can be reduced by a combination of bill assistance, residential energy efficiency, and other social programs.
Property Maintenance
No matter whether you live in a rural or suburban area, as a homeowner, you should always have some emergency funds set aside in case of unexpected repairs. These expenditures always appear at the worst possible moments, but if you wait around, things will only worsen.
Accidents can happen anytime, and that can cause your property to get damaged. Whether what happens, you need to fix that promptly. Prompt action is required when a property is damaged, whether by a fallen tree, burst water main, or the HVAC systems.
These issues are annoying, and fixing them can be expensive. Natural catastrophes rarely occur at a convenient time, so itâs best to be ready for the associated costs ahead of time.
Final Words
When picking between rural living and suburban comfort, house costs arenât the only factor to think about. Your ultimate choice will be determined by the factors that are most important to you.
Which advantages would you receive, and which disadvantages would you incur? There are a number of hidden expenses associated with rural life that you might not have thought about before.
Before making this important choice, you should gather as much data as you can. Research the local housing market and consult with loved ones who have made a similar choice.
The more you know, the less likely it is that you will make a mistake that will end up costing you money. The choice to live in rural America is not right for everyone, but itâs also a choice that everyone gets to make.
If youâre thinking about living a quiet life in the countryâs heart, be sure to weigh your options carefully. Sometimes, you get more than you bargained for, and you donât want to make a choice that could be difficult to recover from.
Thank you for reading!
