Is Your Boss Telling You to Come Back to the Office?

Between improvements in technology and the pandemic, the popularity of remote working options surged over the last few years. And that flexibility gave a lot of people the freedom to move and therefore work from wherever they wanted.

But now, a growing number of companies are requiring employees to return to the office. That’s leading some people to make decisions about where they live and if they need to move.

How Return-to-Work Policies Are Impacting Housing

During the rise of remote work, a lot of employees took the opportunity to move away from expensive or crowded city centers. Some opted for suburban neighborhoods and larger homes with yards, while others relocated to more rural areas.

Some came to Cape Cod. They bought that second/vacation home earlier than planned because it made sense with their new job flexibility. Others purchased homes here to get their families out of the confinement that went with living in an urban area during the pandemic. On Cape, there are open spaces like beaches and ponds. Homes aren’t so close together. Golf courses and walking/biking trails abound.

But lately, more people are finding that their employers are putting them in a tough spot.

And according to data from Bright MLS,more than half of workers surveyed would have to rethink where they live or deal with long drive times if their job enforced a return-to-office policy (see chart below):

And maybe you’re one of them. If you moved further away from your employer during the work-from-home era, you may be facing a longer daily commute that you never expected to make again. Once you’ve done it a few times, you might find it’s something you can get used to and isn’t as bad as you may have thought.

But sometimes, it’s just too hard to make it work — no matter how much you try. A drive or train ride once or twice a week that seemed fine — maybe even a welcomed change of scenery — can feel like too much of a grind five days in a row. It may also be costly to commute so often, take too long, or cut too far into your free time.

As Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, notes: “During the pandemic, when remote work became the norm, homebuyers were able to move farther out . . . But workers do not have the same flexibility that they used to, and some are going to have to make a tough choice if and when their employer calls them back into the office full-time.”

If you’re thinking you may want to move, don’t stress. We can help you weigh your options. Whether it’s finding a home closer to work, balancing commute time with affordability, or even selling a home in one area to buy in another, we can make the process easier.

Bottom Line

If having to be back in-office has you considering a move, let’s connect. We’ll help you figure out what’s possible and what makes sense for you.

Where do you see yourself living if your commute or work routine needs to change? 

Mari and Hank

The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision.