Over the past year, particularly for those dwelling in the heartland such as Chicago, many homeowners realized their changing home needs. With the rise in remote work, there’s a longing for a dedicated office or a change in scenery. Now may be the time to find that perfect home that addresses these evolving needs.
Working from Home Isn’t a Passing Fad.
Before the pandemic, only 21% of individuals worked from home. However, if you’ve recently discovered remote work is your new normal, you’re not alone.
A survey of hiring managers conducted by Statista and Upwork projects 37.5% of U.S. workers will work remotely in some capacity over the next five years (see chart below):
Working from Home Gives You More Flexibility and More Options.
If you fall in that category, working from home may provide opportunities you didn’t realize you had. The ongoing rise in remote work means a portion of the workforce no longer needs to be tied to a specific area for their job.
Instead, it gives those workers more flexibility regarding where they can live.
If you’re one of the nearly 23% of workers who will remain 100% remote, you can move to a lower-cost-of-living area or the location of your dreams.
If you search for a home on a more affordable site, you’ll be able to get more houses for your money, freeing up more options for your dedicated office space and more breathing room.
You could also move to an area you’ve always dreamed of vacationing in – somewhere near the beach, the mountains, or simply an area that features better weather and community amenities. You’re bound to find your ideal spot without your job tying you to a specific location.
If you’re one of the almost 15% of individuals with a partially remote or hybrid schedule, relocating within your local area to a home further away from your office could be a great choice.
Since you won’t be going to work every day, a slightly longer commute from a more suburban or rural area could be a worthy trade-off for a home with more features, space, or comforts.
After all, if you’ll still be at home part-time, why not find a home that better suits your needs?
According to the latest Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate from The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), many homebuyers are already taking advantage of their newfound flexibility:
“. . . after years of apparent but variant trends towards urbanization, the pandemic universally caused a movement away from urban cores, particularly for those with higher incomes who could afford to move and for lower-income individuals seeking lower costs of living.”
Bottom Line.
If you’ve found that what you’re looking for in a home has changed due to remote work, it may be time to move. Let’s connect with real estate experts in Chicago at KM Realty Group LLC today to start prioritizing your home needs.
