Remote Work is Here to Stay. Has This Changed Your Home Needs?

Over the past year and a half, many homeowners have noticed that what they need in a home is changing with the times, especially with the rise in working remotely. If you find yourself longing for a change of scenery or just a dedicated home office, now may be the time to find the home that addresses your evolving needs. Working from Home is the New Normal. Prior to the pandemic, only approximately 21% of the American workforce worked from home. However, if you’ve recently discovered remote work is your new normal, you’re in good company. 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 5 years (see chart below):

Working Remotely = Greater Flexibility & More Options If you fall in the 'Remote Worker' category, working from home may provide you with opportunities you didn’t realize you had. The current 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 when it comes to where they can live. If you’re one of the nearly 1 in 4 professionals who will remain 100% remote, you now have the option to either move to a lower cost-of-living area or to the location you've always dreamt of living in. If you do decide to search for a home in a more affordable area, you’ll likely find that you're able to get more house for your money, freeing up more options for a 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. Without your career tying you to a specific geographic location, you’re now truly able to find your ideal spot. If you’re one of the almost 15% of individuals who will have a partially remote or hybrid schedule, relocating within your local area to a home that’s further away from your office could become a more viable choice. Because you won’t be going into the office every day, a slightly longer commute from a more suburban or rural area could be a worthwhile trade-off for a home with bette features, more space, or personalized 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 most recent Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate from The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), a growing number of homebuyers are already taking advantage of this 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.” Explore Your Options If you’ve discovered that what you’re looking for in a home has changed recently due to a remote working schedule, it may be time to make a move. Our team of local real estate professionals would love to help you! Contact us today to start your home search!