When you’re stuck in traffic, you have time to think. Should I have left home earlier? How bad will my commute be in five years? Would life be easier and cheaper if I found a job someplace the roads aren’t as crowded and the homes aren’t so expensive.
These are all things you should consider when buying a new home. Always do a trial commute during rush hour before you make an offer on a home. Time the ride and estimate your gas consumption. If you’re thinking about taking public transportation, price out the weekly expense.
As you size up neighborhoods, take the time to figure out whee you will worship, buy groceries, go to the movies, enroll the kids in dance class or pick p an extra gallon of milk. Is bus or rail service available, even if only as a backup for days when your car is in the shop? Will your children be able to ride bicycles to the pool, or does a six-lane highway make that too dangerous?
It’s easy to underestimate your total transportation budget when you househunt on a quiet Sunday afternoon. And misjudging your travel needs can derail your after-purchase budget.
Source: Elizabeth Razzi, The Arizona Republic 6-8-08
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