How to Buy a House in a Small Town

The popularity of a small town within driving distance of a city is back. Small towns offer intimacy, friendship and more housing bang for your buck. Use these steps to learn how to buy the perfect house in a small town.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Research small towns to find the one that's best for your family. Read the article Best Places to Live 2006 by "Money Magazine" or the book "The Best Small Towns in America: How to Find a Great Little Place as Your Next Home Base" by Norman Crampton for in-depth looks at small towns you might consider.

2. Make of a list of top five small towns that interest you. Call a real estate agent in those towns for a list of currently available places that fit your requirements. Realtors can tell you about the schools, job climate and activities available in that area.

3. Narrow your choices to two towns concentrate on researching them. Sites like Citydata.com can give you an inside look into many cities and towns all over the U.S.

4. Plan a trip to visit the small town and see the houses you are interested in. Take the whole family. It's important to include the kids in the decision and see what they think of the town as well.

5. Make your move. Get the kids excited and involved; even when moving is something they want to do, it's still hard to leave friends and start a new school.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are moving in the middle of the school year, meet with school officials of the new school to arrange that your kids don't miss more than a couple of days.
• Don't expect small towns to be perfect. There are problems and some level of crime everywhere. Though a small town has only had one murder in the last 15 years, it still may deal with drug-related situations and other petty crime. Be realistic in your expectations.

Resources

• Find the book here!
• Money Magazine Article