Move from the Suburbs to a Small Town

Ready to make the leap to a secluded country home but have no idea what to expect? Let me share everything I experienced and wish I had known when we moved our family from the suburbs to an acreage homesite in a small town well over an hour outside of the city.

Internet, you let me down.

When I was moving to the country Google was no help. No matter what search term I used, all I could find was information about moving out of the country of the United States or moving to the English countryside. Occasionally the internet would spit out stoic advice from residents of such remote backwoods, even the deer had a hard time finding the place. Their message was simply “don’t move here unless you like seeing no one”. I was hoping to find a house in a semi-rural, small town area that actually had a school district. Why did the internet seem to have NOTHING helpful to say? (I was so frustrated that I started this blog to help others. This house hunting checklist is what I wish I would have had in advance!)

And Why Is Online Rural Living Advice So Scary?

Living in the country is AH-MA-ZING, especially if you are a bit of an introvert. But here’s a secret: people like their small towns to stay small. They aren’t going to gush online about how picturesque and sublime their country quietude is. They aren’t going to make it widely known that it is the best thing they ever did for their family, their children and their marriage. (And it’s not just us – countless others we have talked to in our neighborhood agree!) Still, when I was looking for pointers on moving to a small town, the advice began and ended with suggesting I not anger the locals by being a naive city slicker. Great.

A Small Town Move is Different than a Rural Farm Move

I know you’re going to buy a coop, get backyard chickens and turn the place into a mini-farm soon enough but it’s true; moving to a small town parcel is much easier than moving to an isolated farm. Most residents seem to forget their pre-move-in jitters and quickly adjust to the half hour drive to the grocery store. But for you online researcher types, I get it. I wanted to know exactly what I was getting myself into.

If You Want It, Go For It

When the countryside begins calling for you there is little else you can do but follow where the adventure takes you. I’ve written a number of blog posts to help you approach your house hunt with eyes wide open and give you every scrap of knowledge I gained from our move. Grab something delicious to sip and start your research here. Don’t be shy about leaving questions in the comment section either ya’ll! Your fondest dreams truly await you in the days ahead.