Falling for a town on vacation is easy. Living there on a random Tuesday in August is the real test. Here's how to find out if a town fits before you buy.
- Visit off season. Go when the crowds are gone, or when they're at their peak, depending on which you'd find harder to live with.
- Rent for a month. A monthly rental tells you more than a dozen weekend trips.
- Do your normal errands. Grocery store, pharmacy, hardware store, the gym. That's your real life.
- Drive it at rush hour. Check the drive to the airport and the nearest major hospital.
- Go where locals go. The farmers market, a run club, a Sunday service, a trivia night.
- Check the flood map and get an insurance quote before you get attached to a house.
When you're ready, our local partners can show you around the way they'd show a friend.
