This was a topic suggested by a friend who I keep up with on Facebook. The reason I keep up with him on Facebook is he is always traveling. His job has him all over the place and quite honestIy I love living vicariously through him; he seems to be having a great time. My suggestion to him was “I think you need a motor home.”

In all seriousness though, owning a home is not for everyone. We now live in a very small world. Think about it. 50 years ago you found a job and a community, settled down, raised a family and you moved (maybe) when you retired. Today that is not the case for many people. I have recently helped to relocated 4 households to Connecticut. Each of those have lived in no less than 4 places; 3 are between 25 and 40. The other, well we won’t go into age but he has literally lived all over the world.

If you’re on the move every few months, short term rentals are definitely the way to go. I would also hook up with a company that has a presences in your travel areas. This way you can deal with a company you know, they can refer you in network and if possible, share paperwork. Different states have different requirements but hey, any head start on the process helps.

Does this mean you don’t buy? Not necessarily. If you go out for a few weeks at a time or even a couple months at a time and return to a “home base”, owning may not be a bad idea. It gives you the security of knowing you will always have a place to lay your head. A place that is familiar, solid, secure and home. It also is a good investment and in the long run with this kind of life, a money saver. Although I would suggest a condo vs a single family home.

For the young professional that has a “stationary” job my advice would be the same every time; yes. If you qualify for a mortgage and can find a place that you want to live, go for it. It will be a great investment. Make sure you get pre-qualified. This will let you and your agent know what your financial position is and your price range. There is nothing worse than finding a place that you love and then finding out you can’t afford it. At that point the choice becomes about lifestyle; single family, multi-family or condo. It’s all about your comfort level.

Whether you live in something for 5 months or 50 years, the fact of the matter is, it’s home.  Like I said, we live in a small world, why not own your little piece of it?

Author: Cindy Penkoff   http://www.facebook.com/CindyPenkoffRealtor  http://www.linkedin.com/in/cindypenkoffrealtor