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My sister is looking to move after her husband retires next year. They don't know where they want to live, just "somewhere South." She wants to do an online real estate search by putting in the criteria (house size, # bedrms and baths, lot size) etc. She doesn't know the cities and towns, just wants to see what comes up in a broad search without entering locations. (I think this is a bit crazy, but told her I'd try to find out).
1) How do you search with criteria only, without entering location(s) or zips
2) Are there any websites that allow you to get very specific, like "walkable to stores," etc? These details are often found in the descriptions, but can they be entered as criteria?
Even if you could figure out how to do this search you would get so many results it would be almost useless. What do you do when your search turns up 5,000 properties?
You can use Zillow for a broad search. As said, you may end up with too many results to be practical. Once you narrow it down, I recommend you find a website that offers search using the local MLS data, or work with a local agent.
As far as "walkable" areas, you can use a service like walkscore, but you first need to know the address/area to check. Some search sites have this integrated.
I agree with others that it's simply too much to search through. Certainly she must have some idea of what she is looking for in an area. How about starting out by narrowing it down to a state that offers the best option for them financially in retirment. Then narrow it down to a specific county that offers the kind of geography or amenities they might want. Then start looking at specific towns.
The state forums on CityData would be a great resource too in my opinion. She needs to come up with her top 10 things she wants in a location (not in a house, but an overall location, which may include things about housing like "being able to buy a nicer, new 4 bedroom house for under $200k) and then narrow it down to a few states, and go post her "wants" list on the state forum. I see people do that in Idaho's forum often. ie "I'm looking for somewhere to move where I can be close to the mountains, and have at least an acre, for under $100k, but still be within 30 minutes of a mall, but not within 1 hour of any major city of more than 100k people." People then respond and tell them which areas of the state might be a possibility, and then argue all the pros and cons of those locations. Hopefully, that will help her narrow it down to her top 3 or 4 picks and you can then ask some more specific questions on those threads, and start checking realtor.com or your favorite other housing search website for specific criteria in that city.
There are a lot of very helpful people on these forums.
They don't know the location. They only know they want to move "South." They're looking for specific kinds of property and if a listing interests them, they'd then look into the area itself through CD, etc. and then, if it really interests them, they'd visit. Kind of backwards, I agree, but an interesting way to go about seeking a new place to live.
One thing I did find today is a search through the New York Times that allows you to just pick a state but not a city in particular. Of course these are limited (select, not MLS) listings, but it should give them a flavor of what's available in particular Southern states without punching in a city or town. The "advanced search" option gives a wide range of criteria to check off.
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