alison is a broad: Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part IV: Shelter

If you've gotten this far, it means you bought your tickets already. Congrats! The final two aspects of moving abroad (Shelter and Lifestyle) are things that you mainly figure out after you arrive.

Finding a place to live in a new country is no different than finding a place in your home town.

First, take stock of your lifestyle. What kind of home do you like to live in? Do you have a partner or a family to consider? Is there a certain type of neighborhood that suits your lifestyle? Will you or your kids be attending a school?

vans + taxis lined up for commuters at Bangkok's Chatujak Park

Now, take a look at your new city. Where do people like you live? Some people like to be near nightlife, restaurants, and bars. Some people like the safety of the suburbs. Others like the solitude of the countryside.

What about transportation? Will you have a vehicle? What is your budget for public transportation? Do you prefer to walk or drive places?

commute times can add up! here is Bangkok's BTS Skytrain

Whatever your preference, research the neighborhoods in your new city. Consider safety and check forums for statistics. Lonely Planet has a Neighborhoods feature for most major cities that profiles the residents and feel of different areas.

Book yourself temporary housing in an area that sounds appealing. I’ve found that hostels work if you aren’t too picky. Private rooms are cheap and hostels usually have large storage closets to lock up big bags until you find a house. Hotels and AirBNB are good for a soft landing too.

Look Around the Neighborhood

Some countries are strict about breaking leases so I’d advise against long-term housing sight unseen.

walk the streets! this is Sukhumvit Soi 38 in Bangkok, Thailand with lots of street food

I like to show up and literally walk around. 3-4 weeks in a big city is a decent amount of time to spend before choosing a place. In a smaller city of less than 1 million people, 2 weeks is plenty.

Look around. Where are the grocery stores? What is there to eat? What kind of shops are nearby? How many people are out on the street? What does the neighborhood look like after dark? What kind of housing do you see?

Remember that as an immigrant/expat, you will stick out in a new place. Do you plan on learning the language quickly or do you need to look for English language signs everywhere?

When you figure out what neighborhood(s) you like best, start viewing apartments. Every country has different rental customs. If you are lucky, your country will have a healthy internet culture and post listings online. Use local websites and social media groups to search. In some places, maybe you have to hit the pavement or get a rental agent.

Once you tell people your budget, you can narrow down your choices pretty quickly. Have a list of your must-haves for daily life to make your search easy. Do you need a kitchen? A balcony? An open floor plan? A security guard? What kind of bathroom (toilet!) do you want?

Be Flexible

Consider the local lifestyle. I originally listed a full kitchen with an oven as a “must-have” in Thailand because I love to cook. My agent made the comment that it’s so hot in Thailand, people don't often have ovens in the home. Oh! Once I removed the oven from my list, things opened up.

Also, keep an eye out for local real estate quirks. In Bangkok, I was staying at a quiet hostel near a night food market. The neighborhood was far from the inexpensive areas that I was originally looking. The building next door had Lamborghinis in the parking lot. It had a rooftop pool and a free gym. So I wrote it off.

I never considered that in Bangkok, having a city view is a big deal. As it turns out, units on the lower floors (below the 10th) drop drastically in price because the view is blocked. I got a fantastic place upstairs from the food market and less than a minute’s walk from the sky train. I may not be able to afford a building like this in many cities in the world, but I got lucky in Bangkok.

So keep an open mind and you will find your dream place in no time.