If you had to choose, would you pick the dream house or the dream commute?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 11 million people drive an hour or more to work each way. In addition, Trulia’s Best and Worst Cities for Commuting—an analysis of American Community Survey data and a 2015 online survey of more than 2,000 American homeowners—reports that commute times in the 50 biggest U.S. cities have steadily increased since 2009. This could encourage some homebuyers to consider swapping larger houses and longer commutes for more modest properties closer to work. Since your future drive time to work is an important part of the house-hunting puzzle, Trulia shows ways to evaluate your commute before buying a new house.
1. Map out the route from home to work
It’s important to know how your commute will affect your day-to-day life before buying a home. Start by doing a dry run, both in the morning and the evening. If, when you picture yourself commuting every day, you think you can manage it, then go for it. If you think you can’t, keep looking for a home closer to your office.
2. Consider your work-life balance
Would a longer commute put you in a gloomy mood that could outweigh the perk of having a spare bedroom or space for a pool? Ask yourself, “How will the added drive time impact my personal life and family time?” and “How do these concessions balance out with the benefits of the move?” Then consider alternatives. Does your employer offer flexibility in the commute hours? A commute schedule outside of usual high-traffic times can make a huge difference in the hours spent on the road.
3. Consider your life stage
Are you single, newly married, raising a growing family or downsizing? Commuting may not be a deal breaker if you have other priorities. Buyers with families often choose a larger home in a desirable neighborhood that comes with a longer commute. People with children may live further from their office to be in a specific school district. Typically, the further a house is from the central business district, prices are less for additional square footage, which is desirable for growing families. Buyers also might want to evaluate how long they plan to stay in their current job versus how long they intend to live in their new home. You may change jobs, so you better really love where you live.
4. Add up all the costs — not just the financial ones
While you should definitely figure in commuting costs, such as gas, tolls, parking, train tickets and even things like extra hours of child care, think about the psychological costs of commuting as well. No matter how much you love a house, it may not matter if you don’t have enough free time to enjoy it.
5. Seek out alternative routes and travel times
Experiment with different routes and schedules when weighing a new commute. Some people will exercise or shop during traffic hours to maximize the time they have between work and driving home. This enables them to get home more quickly by starting their drive home later. Easy highway access also makes commuting more manageable. Living 1 or 2 miles from the freeway can make a 20- to 30-minute difference in a driver’s day.
6. Embrace the upside of a longer commute
Commuting can be a positive experience, especially if you use that time effectively. For example, you can plan out your workday or practice for a performance review or a challenging conversation with your boss. If you take public transit, you also can catch up on work or clear out your overflowing inbox or voicemail. Commuting can also be beneficial if you reclaim it as “me time.” Listen to podcasts, books on tape or learn another language.