City Life vs. Country Life

If you're house hunting, have you wondered whether the suburbs or a more rural area is actually more affordable than living close to the city? The answer may surprise you.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay.

Realtor.com data has shown that 65 of the 100 largest metro areas nationally were actually more expensive in the suburbs than in the urban core, once the whole picture is considered. Hidden costs add up fast. Commuting is the big one, gas, parking, tolls, transit passes, all of it compounds monthly if your job stays in the city while you move 30 minutes out.

Entertainment is another, suburban areas often mean more driving to reach anything, adding gas and wear on your car. A hotter inland microclimate can mean higher summer utility bills, and a bigger suburban house often comes with bigger repair bills too.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay. Looking at the whole picture, not just the sticker price, is how you make a smart decision on where to buy. Let's talk about what actually fits your budget.