Poll - How many families/folks you know moving out of big cities?

3,784 Views | 35 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by agsalaska
dubberage
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:40p, 7/18/20
I now have 3 families I know (with 2-3 kids each) from the Houston area that are either moving to smaller towns (hour or more west of Houston), or enrolling kids in schools in their vacation home towns in Montana and Idaho and staying up there at least this fall. I guess if you can afford to do this and work remotely, it makes sense. Shoot, I am thinking about it because I have that work flexibility.

Now these moves are not solely due to corona virus, but it played a big part in the decision. Will this start a shift of more people moving back to smaller towns and out of big cities?

Just curious what others are seeing/hearing.

Not a scientific poll

Thanks.
Reply Quote
TexAgs1992
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:53p, 7/18/20
Read an article somewhere recently on this. It would not surprise me if towns such as Waxahachie, Ennis, Brenham, Navasota, Kerrville, Marble Falls, and Burnet see the fruits people moving outside of Houston, DFW, Austin, or San Antonio.
Reply Quote
3
Duncan Idaho
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:02p, 7/18/20
They will **** up those towns like they did college station.
Reply Quote
46
Charpie
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:29p, 7/18/20
AG
I have two coworkers who are leaving Austin and moving to Colorado
Reply Quote
Fairview
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:17p, 7/18/20
AG
I live in a small town in Colorado and real estate is on fire because of people doing this. I think a lot of people were considering it and this just pushed them over the edge.
Reply Quote
1
Capitol Ag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:41p, 7/18/20
AG
People are tired of larger town politics and also want to just get away from congestion. Now that Covid has provided an opportunity to have many work from home, people can afford to get away from the big cities. Not to mention virus issues, masking issues etc. We are in a small town actually checking out home sites ourselves but nothing serious. Still, it's nice and away from the pandemonium
Reply Quote
1
Gizzards
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:05p, 7/18/20
AG
It's not just Covid causing this, but all the unrest related to the social justice warrior movement. Big cities are the epicenter of that as well.
Reply Quote
21
Charpie
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Gizzards • 9:11p, 7/18/20
AG
Actually, the pandemic allowed for more employers to realize that they don't need to have people in their offices anymore, so people can live wherever and do their job
Reply Quote
13
TAMU1990
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Duncan Idaho • 9:23p, 7/18/20
AG
Duncan Idaho said:
They will **** up those towns like they did college station.
Funny, working from home allowed me and my spouse to move to CS. We love it here.
Reply Quote
7
FratboyLegend
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to dubberage • 9:34p, 7/18/20
dubberage said:
I now have 3 families I know (with 2-3 kids each) from the Houston area that are either moving to smaller towns (hour or more west of Houston), or enrolling kids in schools in their vacation home towns in Montana and Idaho and staying up there at least this fall. I guess if you can afford to do this and work remotely, it makes sense. Shoot, I am thinking about it because I have that work flexibility.

Now these moves are not solely due to corona virus, but it played a big part in the decision. Will this start a shift of more people moving back to smaller towns and out of big cities?

Just curious what others are seeing/hearing.

Not a scientific poll

Thanks.
You now know a fourth. Thats my exact demographic and plan, as I want my kids an an actual classroom when school starts.
#CertifiedSIP
Reply Quote
1
sellthefarm
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:50p, 7/18/20
AG
1 for sure and probably another from NYC back to Texas. The maybe is a crazy rich lawyer that lives in one of those condos where you own the whole floor. About 2 weeks into Covid the whole building was empty and I bet a bunch of them don't go back.
Reply Quote
MTVs Celebrity Deathmatch
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charpie • 10:35a, 7/19/20
AG
Charpie said:
Actually, the pandemic allowed for more employers to realize that they don't need to have people in their offices anymore, so people can live wherever and do their job


This. People are also realizing that they need a bigger house if one or two adults going to be working from home.
Reply Quote
8
1 edit
burlesona
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:01a, 7/19/20
AG
I live in San Francisco but my company is all remote through the end of the year at least. From what I can see about a third of the company has left California entirely to go to interior states less affected, and another 10% or so have moved out to the far edges of the metro area.

I booked a vacation rental in Spokane, WA for the summer, so my family is part of the move out wave. We decided to homeschool this year.

I don't think it's technically a majority of people, but it's such a big minority that it's already reshaping real estate markets across the country.
Reply Quote
2
Knucklesammich
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:07a, 7/19/20
One of my customers is a large life sciences company that shifted ~40k employees to 100% remote over the course of March.

Don't have an exact count but at least 30-40% will have the option to remain remote. That will drive people to choice where to live.
Reply Quote
2
YouBet
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:19a, 7/19/20
AG
I started same thread on Metroplex board a few days ago. Will absolutely be a thing. We are looking to do this ourselves. My company has thrown in the towel on physical space and anticipating 50% of our folks never return to work (physically), so why live in an urban area where you can't even make use of the amenities. No idea what we are going to do with the RE yet.

I would rather have land and a view if I'm going to be at my house most of my life.
Reply Quote
7
Federale01
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charpie • 3:42p, 7/19/20
AG
Which is a silly reason to move, IMHO. If you lose your job, you may not be able to find a new one that allows for such flexibility. Then you are in the middle of no where where there are no jobs. Maybe I am being overly pessimistic, but it seems short sighted considering we are going to beat this thing or have to learn to live with it by the beginning of next year.
Reply Quote
2
1 edit
Charpie
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Federale01 • 3:42p, 7/19/20
AG
Not right now in tech. Most places are letting you work from wherever
Reply Quote
5
Federale01
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charpie • 3:48p, 7/19/20
AG
Charpie said:
Not right now in tech. Most places are letting you work from wherever
Right Now is a big qualifier I think. I am not sure Amazon, Apple, and Google are building new HQs all over the US with going remote in mind.
Reply Quote
2
Charpie
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Federale01 • 3:53p, 7/19/20
AG
Are they still moving forward with those plans? Building a warehouse |= tech jobs
Reply Quote
3
jpd301
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:13p, 7/19/20
AG
The biggest impediment to this will be the lack of good internet in so many semi rural or small town type places.

I am unable to WFH at my folks place in Leon County because there is no high speed internet and the satellite internet is too slow.
Reply Quote
3
WoMD
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to burlesona • 4:14p, 7/19/20
burlesona said:
I live in San Francisco but my company is all remote through the end of the year at least. From what I can see about a third of the company has left California entirely to go to interior states less affected, and another 10% or so have moved out to the far edges of the metro area.

I booked a vacation rental in Spokane, WA for the summer, so my family is part of the move out wave. We decided to homeschool this year.

I don't think it's technically a majority of people, but it's such a big minority that it's already reshaping real estate markets across the country.



I also live in SF, but after dealing with the shut down and being cooped up the first couple months I packed up the car and took a temp job on the central coast. Small town life almost feels like normal, with most people just going about their lives as if nothing really changed (at least minimized). And there's no overpowering negative energy everywhere you go like back in sf. And the people here are surprisingly conservative and down to earth. I absolutely love it here, especially with all hell breaking loose in the big cities. You come to appreciate slower pace to life too.

Being a few minutes from the beach with perfect weather certainly helps, of course.

I might stay...
Reply Quote
5
wessimo
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:28p, 7/19/20
AG
I know zero people doing this.
Reply Quote
8
YouBet
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to wessimo • 5:03p, 7/19/20
AG
wessimo said:
I know zero people doing this.


I have two people on my team who are going to move back to their hometowns. Granted, one of them is going to Chicago so basically he's going from frying pan into the fire.

My wife has three folks on her team who are moving out. West Texas, New Mexico, and South Carolina.
Reply Quote
YouBet
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to wessimo • 5:08p, 7/19/20
AG
wessimo said:
I know zero people doing this.


I know of 5.
Reply Quote
1
MyAgs1820
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:33p, 7/19/20
Our family moved to a rural area in Texas from Houston. One of us works from home (pre-COVID) and the other teaches. We will never go back! We have some land, a lake, neighbors close enough to have as friends, and a much more laid back town and mentality. Yes, we shake our heads every now and then and the things we see and hear for the first time, but they are harmless and frankly, we are loving it. COVID is here, but the atmosphere and general sentiment on it and other social issues make it easily bearable. Love the country life!
Reply Quote
2
SoTheySay
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:47a, 7/20/20
S
I am a Realtor in CS and I have a few clients moving within town. Several of them are taking advantage of rates and moving their timelines of their original plans up. Some are looking for more space, both in house and lot size, thinking they may be spending much more time at home.
Reply Quote
amercer
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:23a, 7/20/20
AG
We bought a bigger place in our small town a couple months ago. Our old house was only on the market for about 48 hours.

Is amazing how little anything in the last 5 months has affected us here.
Reply Quote
1
Federale01
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Charpie • 8:53a, 7/20/20
AG
Charpie said:
Are they still moving forward with those plans? Building a warehouse |= tech jobs
I just stayed the weekend across the street from Googles Pittsburgh HQ facility in the process of being built. Its an office building, not warehouse. That would be a massive investment to walk away from. Amazon's HQ2 near DC is still moving forward as well.
Reply Quote
2 edits
fig96
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Federale01 • 9:41a, 7/20/20
AG
Federale01 said:
Charpie said:
Are they still moving forward with those plans? Building a warehouse |= tech jobs
I just stayed the weekend across the street from Googles Pittsburgh HQ facility in the process of being built. Its an office building, not warehouse. That would be a massive investment to walk away from. Amazon's HQ2 near DC is still moving forward as well.
I had a call with a designer at Google a few weeks ago talking about how much of their workforce they're shifting to remote.

There will be exceptions, and there will still be some physical office space for these huge companies that can afford it, but we're going to see a huge shift in tech over the next few years.
Reply Quote
4
Marcus Aurelius
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:42a, 7/20/20
AG
Dream of moving to a ranch in Montana or Wyoming.
Reply Quote
1
htxag09
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:26p, 7/20/20
AG
I know of 0 people leaving Houston specifically because of this. I know some researching private schools more, though. Another piece of anecdotal evidence, a neighbor sold his townhome in Houston in under a week.
Reply Quote
1 edit
jh0400
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:43p, 7/20/20
AG
I work in tech and have thought about this a lot. The one thing holding me back is my next job. My role has adapted to WFH but is one that is still more suited to at least some amount of F2F. With my current company I could move with no issue, but I'm concerned about being limited to remote-only roles in the longer term if we decided to relocate to a more rural area.
Reply Quote
1
fig96
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jh0400 • 2:00p, 7/20/20
AG
Similar boat here. I'm currently in Austin and we don't want to move away from here, but I'd consider areas just a bit outside town that would make for an ugly commute if I had go back to working in the city again on a regular basis.
Reply Quote
jenn96
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:01p, 7/20/20
AG
My husband and I (Houston area) talk about this a lot but it's pie in the sky for now since we're both geographically tied here with our jobs being very Houston-specific, with no WFH. We can change jobs, obviously, but it's not an easy transition like it would be if we were already working remotely.

Plus we have a special-needs child that until March 2020 was getting an exemplary public-school education and was thriving. Obviously all that has changed but I want to give every benefit of the doubt to his school to see what they can do this year before we throw in the towel.

Down the road through, I see less and less appeal in staying in the city.
Reply Quote
1
BadMoonRisin
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Marcus Aurelius • 2:11p, 7/20/20
AG
Marcus Aurelius said:
Dream of moving to a ranch in Montana or Wyoming.
I've had the same idea recently. It started when my wife and I started binging Yellowstone. Beautiful out there.

We got married in Bigfork, Montana.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!
Reply Quote
2
Page 1 of 2 ▼
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.