30 Weeks Until Move: Neighborhood Selection - How to Choose the Right Neighborhood

Note: this is an excerpt of our free e-newsletter, Let the Adventure Begin!. For full access, please subscribe to the e-version of Let the Adventure Begin! (free). This is a synopsis of an e-newsletter issue of Let the Adventure Begin! Subscribe today (free) and you'll receive weekly e-newsletters starting 8 months before your approximate move date and running through your first four months abroad, you'll receive weekly e-newsletters with timely advice related to where you are in the preparation and settling in processes. Subscribe | Update Subscription | Unsubscribe

NationPhone&TV NationPhone&TV's USA TV Abroad Service offers you a real US cable subscription streamed to you live from the US. You can watch on your PC, your TV, or on your mobile device! Go to NationPhone's Website for a demo today. Click Here to Learn More!

Learning about Different Neighborhoods and Towns

Unless you're very familiar with your destination, choosing the right neighborhood or town can be a difficult decision. Proximity to schools, work, grocery stores, social venues -- whatever is important to you and your family -- are all important factors to consider when choosing the right neighborhood. Many relocation professionals advise families with a short-term housing allowance to find accommodation in or near the neighborhood or town where they think that they would like to live long term. This gives you the chance to try out a neighborhood before signing a long-term lease or even buying a home. Talk with work colleagues, use our Country Forums to get advice from other expats, read through articles on our Country Networks and discuss neighborhoods with your relocation and real estate professionals. If you have kids and have already decided upon a school, the administrators and other parents are a tremendous resource! ExpatExchange has also been collecting reviews of cities and towns from expats worldwide for many years. Our Moving & Relo Report and City Profile reports provide valuable insight into neighborhood selection, real estate, social activities and more.

Earth Class Mail Earth Class Mail lets you view your mail online, then, with a mouse click, have it either opened and scanned for your review and download, shredded to protect your privacy, recycled to help the environment or forward-shipped to you or others 24/7, wherever you are in the world. Reduces forward-shipping costs by 50-90%! Click Here to Learn More!

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Neighborhood

Proximity to School If you have school-aged children, proximity to school is a key factor. Many international schools provide bussing, but it's important to determine if the trip is an okay length for your children. Adding two hours a day on a bus to your child's schedule may not be the best idea - especially during the time when they will be adjusting to expat life. Proximity to Work How long will it take you to get to work? We recommend talking with other expats about commuting times - especially if you are in a big city. Checking distances on a city map can be irrelevant - a few miles in Manhattan can take an hour when the commute includes subway transfers, a long walk to the subway, etc... Ask your future colleagues about commuting times and for recommendations on their favorite neighborhoods. Suburban vs. City Living Cost-of-living often dictates the decision between suburban and city living. If you're single and looking for an active social life, the more metropolitan your neighborhood the better! For families, it's a lifestyle decision as well. Many expat families, who live in the suburbs in their home country, decide to live in the city during their assignments abroad in order to take better advantage of cultural and social events. Housing Options Housing options are very different from country to country and city to suburbs. $3000/month rents you a much different home in Prague, Paris and Tokyo. Do your research, figure out how much space you will need and spend a good deal of time hunting during your look-see trip or when living in short-term housing.

Global Rescue Living abroad has a lot of benefits but exceptional healthcare isn't one of them. Global Rescue membership ensures your health and safety no matter where you reside. We will evacuate you to the hospital of your choice in your home country. Period. Click Here to Learn More!

Recommended Links: Housing and Neighborhoods in Paris Diana Morales Amsterdam Real Estate: Popular Neighborhoods Barry Burgemeester Getting to Know Lisbon's Neighborhoods Steenie Harvey ExpatExchange's City-by-City Moving & Relocation Reports ExpatExchange's City Profiles Other LInks Now is the Time to Invest in Paris Real Estate Kathleen Peddicord (Nov 23, 2008) Ten Things to Know About Fractional Ownership BEFORE You Invest Darrell Halverson (Jul 20, 2008) Amsterdam Real Estate: Popular Neighborhoods Barry Burgemeester (May 10, 2008) Woulda', Shoulda', Coulda' Kathleen Peddicord (May 10, 2008) 5 Tips for Spanish Property Buyers Debbie Jenkins (May 03, 2008) Spain - A Perfect Destination? Simone Icough (Feb 02, 2008) Top Tips for Renting Overseas Property Henry Davis (Dec 30, 2007) Why is Panama Real Estate so Hot Right Now? Tony Moreno (Oct 13, 2007) New Condo Sales in Bangkok Neil Simmons (Jun 09, 2007) Dinner and a Financial Crisis Will Bonner (May 19, 2007) >> See More Articles Related Resources aussieproperty.com Simply the best information site for anyone interested in Australian property. Unique Property Investors Tool Box, Special Reports, News Articles & Property Search. All Available Free of Charge Invest in the Amazon - Starting from USD 3,000 Live and Invest Overseas Live and Invest Overseas is the world's savviest source for top opportunities to live better, retire in style, invest for profit, do business, and own real estate overseas. Sign up here to read the free dispatches from our editors around the world! Specialist Mortgage Australian Property finance experts. We can arrange a loan for any Australian Property purchase for Aussie expats, foreign nationals and intended migrants. Offices Internationally. Related Reports Destination Profile: Costa Rica Destination Profile: Ecuador Destination Profile: Ecuador Destination Profile: El Salvador Destination Profile: Korea Destination Profile: Panama Destination Profile: Poland Destination Profile: Spain Destination Profile: Spain Destination Profile: US Relocation Advice: Australia Relocation Advice: Australia Relocation Advice: Belgium Relocation Advice: Bermuda Relocation Advice: Canada Relocation Advice: France Relocation Advice: Greece Relocation Advice: Hong Kong Relocation Advice: Hong Kong Relocation Advice: Ireland Relocation Advice: Japan Relocation Advice: Japan Relocation Advice: Lithuania Relocation Advice: Mexico Relocation Advice: Netherlands Relocation Advice: New Zealand Relocation Advice: New Zealand Relocation Advice: Philippines Relocation Advice: Russia Relocation Advice: South Africa Relocation Advice: Thailand Relocation Advice: Thailand Relocation Advice: Trinidad & Tob. Relocation Advice: Turkey Relocation Advice: Turkey Relocation Advice: UK Relocation Advice: Uruguay Relocation Advice: US Relocation Advice: US Relocation Advice: Vietnam Career Advice: US Financial Advice: Lebanon Financial Advice: New Zealand

This Issue Written by Betsy Burlingame

Betsy Burlingame is the founder of ExpatExchange.com. She launched ExpatExchange.com in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at New York University. Over the last 11+ years, ExpatExchange.com has become one of the largest and most well-respected online communities for expatriates and international transferees.

Subscribe to Let the Adventure Begin! Newsletter

Week 35: Career Issues

Week 34: Preparing Your Kids

Week 33: Job Search

Week 32: A Glimpse of Your New Life Abroad

Week 31: School Selection

Week 30: Neighborhood Selection

Week 29: Resume & CV Tips

Week 28: The Accompanying Spouse

Week 27: Moving Logistics

Week 26: Moving Logistics (Part 2)

Week 25: Health Insurance & Services

Week 24: Your Health Abroad

Week 23: The Family Pet

Week 22: Security Matters

Week 21: Preparing Your Teenager

Week 20: Learning the Language

Week 19: Understanding the Culture

Week 18: Passport & Visa

Week 17: Work Permits

Week 16: Financial Matters

Week 15: Tax Matters

Week 14: Real Estate Matters

Week 13: Working Abroad

Week 12: Working Abroad (Part 2)

Week 11: Counseling & Coaching

Week 10: Technology

Week 9: Making Connections

Week 8: Moving Checklist

Week 7: Moving with Kids

Week 6: Recommended Reading

Week 5: Culture Shock

Week 4: Drowning in Details?

Week 3: The Right Mindset

Week 2: The Right Mindset (Part 2)

Week 1: Parenting

Settling In: Your First 18 Weeks Abroad