What options for transportation will you have? What is traffic like between the home and your employment? How long will it take to get to work? Would you prefer a smaller home closer to work, or a larger, less expensive home with a long commute?

What will your neighbors be like? Are they friendly? How far away are essential places like gas stations and grocery stores? Is there a community improvement or crime prevention program in place?

If you are buying a home, is your future house roughly the same value as the surrounding homes, or is it significantly worth more or less? If it is worth less, then the neighboring homes might help increase the long-term value of your home. If it is worth significantly more, they may cause your home to be worth less than it might otherwise be when you try to sell it.

Are there disturbing noises or lights such as a streetlamp shining through your bedroom window or a train that passes nearby? What is the quality of the local schools? Do they have programs that interest your children? What about the local churches?

How old is your house? Is it a fixer-upper? Will you have to pay more in utilities due to inadequate insulation? Will you need to spend a lot of time keeping up the yard?

Unless you like packing boxes and loading trailers, you'll want to find a place you can live in for as long as needed. Weighing the answers to the above questions before buying a home can help you choose the best place to live when relocating.