Hidden Costs in Relocating....

And I am not talking about the move. We all know that moving CAN be expensive (but not if you move with CRS!), but there are hidden costs when relocating that you should look into before deciding on a new home. These costs vary depending on your new location. Michelle Lerner from Bankrate.com has put together some information regarding this topic as well as some advice when relocating. Before moving, you should look into the following costs:

-Transportation: Transportation is the second largest expense for households. Purchasing a home is the first! Whether you are driving your own car or using public transportation, it is important to look into the costs so that you can budget that in to your expenses. Many people budget home taxes, mortgage and insurance but they don't always budget for transportation which can be a large chunk of change.

-Taxes: Taxes are especially important when comparing the overall cost of living from one are to another. Property taxes, sales taxes and state and local income tax should all be reviewed before relocating to an area.

-Insurance & Utilities: There are several types of insurance to look into when relocating. Car insurance, homeowner insurance and hazard insurance if you are moving to a flood-prone or tornado prone area. Utility costs also vary from place to place.

So before choosing a place to relocate to, or in some cases, are forced to relocate for work, make sure you look into the different costs of living to prepare yourself and your budget for the change.