Do you realize that most homeowners in the US live in their homes for less than a decade? In fact, the average homeowner will live in each house for only about 5 years before selling it and moving on to the next one.
Is this madness or do we really have good reason to pack up and go so quickly?
When you think about how much time, money, patience, and downright aggravation is involved in buying and selling, it’s amazing we are so quick to do it every couple of years.
10 Reasons We Buy & Sell
A 2010 survey home ownership survey asked this very question to thousands of homeowners and the answers are revealing. Here’s a synopsis of the top 10 reasons given.
1. Wanting a bigger home.
Couples owning their first home often can’t afford as much space as they’d like. Fast forward a couple years and with a couple of kids and the need for a bigger home is staring at them in the face.
2. Wanting a better home.
The simple desire for something better strongly motivates homeowners to bigger and better homes.
3. Change in job.
This meant everything from a job loss to an increased commute.
4. Marriage or Divorce.
Getting married or divorced almost always results in a change of home ownership.
5. Closer to Family
Particularly true for older homeowners, the desire to live closer to ones family is a strong factor in moving.
6. Neighborhood Issues
Overzealous HOA rules, disagreeably neighbors, and rising crime rates all cause people to move.
7. Empty Nest Syndrome
Once the kids are out of the house there is no reason to have all that space. A smaller home makes more sense, and the process of buying and selling a home can give parents something to focus on who might find it difficult having no children in the home to care for suddenly.
8. Lifestyle Change
Reassessing your needs and desires can lead to a change in lifestyle that starts with your home. This usually means wanting something with less upkeep. A simple, minimalist approach to owning a home is currently a trend we see with the “Tiny House” movement.
9. Health Issues
Unfortunately the reality of aging and disease can make it necessary to move. Not just in the sense of life threatening illnesses that take away your ability to work but also simple things such as homes with steep staircases that are not easy to manage can be reason enough to get a new place.
10. For the Fun of It
Everyone knows someone who gets a rush out of buying a home, fixing it up, and later selling it. Not necessarily in the sense of “flipping it” for a profit – more in the sense that they really enjoy the challenge. But once all the work is done, what is there to do? Sell it and move on to the next home!
This article is by DeAngelo Sage. DeAngelo is a wardrobe closet, decor, and interior design consultant, lending his talents to clients across the globe who need assistance in making the most of their style both in and out of the home.