Do you have mover’s regret? A recent survey of Americans found that 36% of those…
Do you have mover’s regret? A recent survey of Americans found that 36% of those who recently relocated would have moved to a different neighborhood than their current one.
Additionally 77% agree there is no single reliable source for complete neighborhood information.
The survey results are from Trulia, a home and neighborhood site for homebuyers and renters.
This research was released in conjunction with the launch of Trulia Neighborhoods, a product giving people a genuine feel for what it’s like to actually live in a neighborhood.
Neighborhood Regret is Highest Among City Dwellers
If given the chance to do it again, nearly half (46%) of city residents say they would choose a different neighborhood. Rural (31%) and suburban (30%) residents, however, were slightly less likely than city dwellers to say that they would want move to switch neighborhoods if they could do it over again.
Way of life or “vibe” has a significant influence on homebuyers and renters. Residents want to be as sure as possible that the neighborhood is as good a fit for their lifestyle as the house itself.
Nearly half (48%) believe the “vibe” or feeling of the neighborhood had a significant influence on their decision to move there, followed by commute time (37%) and crime rates (37%). Among the issues homebuyers and renters experience that lead to unhappiness include; lack of social activity (28%), street noise (21%), frequent traffic (16%) and lack of public transportation (16%).
No Single Source for Neighborhood Information
Unfortunately, most home buyers and renters failed to do their homework before moving in. Only 38% searched for photos of different parts of the neighborhood and even less (37%) visited popular local spots.
An issue highly correlated to neighborhood regret, safety, was among the least researched neighborhood attributes. An overwhelming majority (74%) of homebuyers and renters did not research police reports before moving into their current home.
Nearly half (47%) did not visit their current neighborhood at night before buying or renting their home. Slightly more than half (54%) consulted with only two sources or fewer for information about their current neighborhood.