House Hunting From Another State: How to Find a Home Before You Move

Start house hunting from another state with neighborhood research

When you live nearby, you already know which parts of town fit you. House hunting from another state means building that knowledge on purpose, and it is worth doing before you look at a single listing.

• Commute. Map the drive to work, school, and the airport at rush hour, not at midnight
• Schools. Check attendance zones for the exact address. Zones do not always follow neighborhood names
• Ongoing costs. Look up property tax rates, homeowners insurance quotes, HOA dues, and utility providers. These differ sharply between states and even between counties
• Risk. Review flood maps and ask about storms, wildfire, or other local hazards that affect insurance
• Daily life. Find the grocery store, the pharmacy, parks, and the places you would actually go each week
• Street level. Use street view to look at the block, then ask someone local what the photos do not show

Narrow the map to two or three areas. A short list of neighborhoods makes everything after this faster.

Find a relocation real estate agent you trust

When you are buying a house out of state, your agent is your eyes, ears, and nose. Look for a relocation real estate agent who has worked with long-distance buyers before, and interview more than one by video call. Ask:

• How many out-of-state buyers have you worked with recently?
• Will you walk homes on live video and tell me what you would not buy?
• Which neighborhoods would you rule out for my commute and budget, and why?
• Can you recommend local inspectors, lenders, and closing attorneys or title companies?
• How quickly can you get into a new listing for me?

Your agent may ask you to sign a written buyer agreement before touring homes, including tours by live video. Read what services it covers, how long it lasts, and how the agent is paid. Rules differ by state, so ask questions before you sign.

How to get the most from virtual home tours

Listing photos are marketing. Virtual home tours are useful only when someone is working for you on the other end of the camera. Ask your agent to do a live walk-through and to slow down for the parts photos skip:

1. The street in both directions, the neighbors' yards, and what is behind the back fence
2. The roof line, gutters, driveway, and any standing water or steep slope
3. Ceilings and the corners of every room, looking for stains or cracks
4. Under the sinks, the water heater, the electrical panel, and the furnace or air handler labels
5. The basement, crawl space access, attic hatch, and garage
6. Windows opened and closed, and the view out of each one
7. What the agent hears and smells: road noise, trains, pets, smoke, damp

Record the call so you can compare homes later, and ask for a tape measure on doorways, stairs, and the wall where your largest furniture will go.

Plan a house hunting trip that counts

One well-planned house hunting trip beats three rushed ones. Go once your short list is down to a handful of homes and your financing is pre-approved, so you can act on what you see.

• Schedule two or three full days, with at least one weekday
• Have your agent group showings by area, finalists first
• Drive each commute yourself at the hour you would really drive it
• Visit your top choice twice, once in daylight and once after dark
• Walk the block and talk to a neighbor if you can
• Leave a few open hours for a second look or a new listing

If you are relocating for work, ask whether your employer covers this trip. Our guide to what to ask for in a relocation package lists it among the common benefits.

Should you rent before you buy in a new state?

Sometimes the best first home in a new state is a short-term rental. Choosing to rent before you buy costs you a second move, but it buys time to learn the area.

If you rent first, you may need to store part of your household for a few months. See storage during a move for how that works.

Making an offer, inspecting, and closing from a distance

Buying a house out of state does not change the steps. It changes who is standing in the house while they happen.

Inspection. Do not skip it, least of all on a home you have seen only on a screen. Hire your own licensed inspector, join by video for the summary if you cannot be there, and read the full report with photos.

Paperwork. Most documents can be signed electronically. For the closing itself, depending on the state and your lender, you may be able to sign by mail, with a mobile notary, or through remote online notarization. Your closing attorney or title company can tell you which options apply. For legal questions about the contract, talk to a real estate attorney licensed in the new state.

Money. Wire fraud targets home buyers. Confirm wiring instructions by calling a phone number you already know is real, never one from an email.

Final walk-through. If you cannot attend, have your agent do it on live video the day before closing.

Line up your move with your closing date

The last piece is getting your household there at the right time. A long-distance shipment is delivered within a window of days, not at a set hour, so build in slack on both ends. Our article on long-distance delivery windows explains how that range is set.

• Do not schedule delivery for the same day as closing. Closings slip
• Ask your agent about early possession or a rent-back if the dates are tight
• Book movers 3 to 4 weeks ahead for a long-distance move, and earlier in summer
• Send your mover the new address details: stairs, elevators, driveway length, and any HOA rules for trucks

Allpoints is family-owned, licensed and insured, and has moved customers nationwide since 1999. Long-distance moves are quoted as a flat rate, so you know the cost before you commit to a closing date. Read about our long-distance moving service or request a free quote. If you also have a property to sell before you go, see our sell and move offer.