One way to handle gas prices: Move

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It may seem a bit drastic, but more and more people are taking what is perhaps the ultimate step in cutting gas prices: They're moving.

Peaches Stevens used to rent an old farm house in southern Indiana. She loved the setting, but her job as a high school science teacher was 62 miles to the north.

Coaching golf after school made carpooling difficult, and even though her Dodge Neon got an impressive 30 miles a gallon, she was still spending upwards of $400 a month on gas.

So she moved. Now Stevens, 49, rents a place eight miles away from school. Plus, she bough a Honda scooter that gets 80 miles a gallon. Now she can get to work and back for about $16 a month.

"I'm doing it all for economic reasons," said Stevens, who figures she'll save enough in gas to pay off the $2,400 scooter in under 7 months. "I loved [the farmhouse], but I do feel like I'm doing the right thing."

Stevens is part of a national trend of high gas prices playing a major role in where people choose to live. Factors like distance from work, access to public transportation, and proximity to shopping are gaining ground on square footage and whether or not the home has a yard and pushing people into more densely packed areas.

"The high cost of gas is cited as a driving factor in increased interest in urban living," said Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Coldwell Banker, a national realty franchise. "Over the past several years we've seen a boom in downtown living all over the country."

It seems like the people actually making the move so far seem to be renters as opposed to owners, as not renewing a lease is obviously much easier than selling a home.

While their wallets may be happy, whether the quality of life is improving for the people who move is debatable.

"I went from a beautiful home with a big back yard to an itty-bitty studio apartment," said Erinn Thomas, who moved from a suburb of Reno, NV, to the downtown area to save on gas. "But it's what I had to do to eat."

So 25-year old Thomas now rents a place just a mile from work.

She says she'll miss the space of the suburbs, but in addition to the $200 a month she hopes to save on gas, she also aims to pocket another $100 a month - and probably improve her health - by staying away from the Drive-thru window at the local fast-food joints.

"I don't have to drive anymore and I can buy a bike," she says.

In addition to personal health, some are also tipping their hat to the health of the planet.

"You cut your carbon footprint, which is pretty cool," said Jason Zulick, a 31- year old human resources manager from Orwigsburg, Penn.

Jason and his wife Tara moved to Orwigsburg from a town 25 miles away. High gas prices weren't the only reason they moved - the couple hopes to start a family and wanted to be closer to relatives in the area.

But they played a big part, and Tara's commute to her teaching job has been cut in half.

"We've saved $150 a month on gas alone just making the switch," said Jason.

http://promo.realestate.yahoo.com/one-way-...ices:-move.html

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Peaches Stevens used to rent an old farm house in southern Indiana.

fukcin hippie

[Amby 490]

I live in southern Indiana and I've never heard a crazy name like Peaches Stevens

[mawilson 2,133]

I live in southern Indiana and I've never heard a crazy name like Peaches Stevens

[Marc and Olga 0]

I use to work at AM/PM back in the 90's, back when many places accepted checks.

While there I took a check (and checked her ID)...

Her name?

Apple Pie

[Dr. Obvious 49]

It seems like the people actually making the move so far seem to be renters as opposed to owners, as not renewing a lease is obviously much easier than selling a home.

Well, yeah. Renting isn't all that bad. Buying a home to me is the equivalent of marrying an area. I am just not ready for that kind of commitment.

[Heracles 417]

Maybe we will finally see people moving back into the cities and towns.

[PlatyPius 5]

There are many, many empty houses here in Greencastle now. Some probably foreclosures, but some are probably people moving to Indy or at least Avon/Danville/Mooresville... anything to be closer to work and save money. I don't know the percentage, but a lot of people from Greencastle work in Indy. Enough that we are technically considered a "suburb" of Indy, even though it's 50 miles away with miles of corn fields in between.

I can't move closer to my job; nor would I want to, but I am starting to seriously look at jobs that are closer to my home. Too bad they all suck. lol

[zqt3344 21]

And how much is the rent now to this new place Peaches moved to compared to where she used to live? Or how much is the property taxes and mortgage at new place compared to old place she drove from, sometimes you bite your nose off to spite your face, Peaches should have tried buying that motor scooter first and driving it 62 miles one way to work each day and back first before moving.

It may seem a bit drastic, but more and more people are taking what is perhaps the ultimate step in cutting gas prices: They're moving.

Peaches Stevens used to rent an old farm house in southern Indiana. She loved the setting, but her job as a high school science teacher was 62 miles to the north.

Coaching golf after school made carpooling difficult, and even though her Dodge Neon got an impressive 30 miles a gallon, she was still spending upwards of $400 a month on gas.

So she moved. Now Stevens, 49, rents a place eight miles away from school. Plus, she bough a Honda scooter that gets 80 miles a gallon. Now she can get to work and back for about $16 a month.

"I'm doing it all for economic reasons," said Stevens, who figures she'll save enough in gas to pay off the $2,400 scooter in under 7 months. "I loved [the farmhouse], but I do feel like I'm doing the right thing."

Stevens is part of a national trend of high gas prices playing a major role in where people choose to live. Factors like distance from work, access to public transportation, and proximity to shopping are gaining ground on square footage and whether or not the home has a yard and pushing people into more densely packed areas.

"The high cost of gas is cited as a driving factor in increased interest in urban living," said Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Coldwell Banker, a national realty franchise. "Over the past several years we've seen a boom in downtown living all over the country."

It seems like the people actually making the move so far seem to be renters as opposed to owners, as not renewing a lease is obviously much easier than selling a home.

While their wallets may be happy, whether the quality of life is improving for the people who move is debatable.

"I went from a beautiful home with a big back yard to an itty-bitty studio apartment," said Erinn Thomas, who moved from a suburb of Reno, NV, to the downtown area to save on gas. "But it's what I had to do to eat."

So 25-year old Thomas now rents a place just a mile from work.

She says she'll miss the space of the suburbs, but in addition to the $200 a month she hopes to save on gas, she also aims to pocket another $100 a month - and probably improve her health - by staying away from the Drive-thru window at the local fast-food joints.

"I don't have to drive anymore and I can buy a bike," she says.

In addition to personal health, some are also tipping their hat to the health of the planet.

"You cut your carbon footprint, which is pretty cool," said Jason Zulick, a 31- year old human resources manager from Orwigsburg, Penn.

Jason and his wife Tara moved to Orwigsburg from a town 25 miles away. High gas prices weren't the only reason they moved - the couple hopes to start a family and wanted to be closer to relatives in the area.

But they played a big part, and Tara's commute to her teaching job has been cut in half.

"We've saved $150 a month on gas alone just making the switch," said Jason.

http://promo.realestate.yahoo.com/one-way-...ices:-move.html

[chri'stina 190]

There are many, many empty houses here in Greencastle now. Some probably foreclosures, but some are probably people moving to Indy or at least Avon/Danville/Mooresville... anything to be closer to work and save money. I don't know the percentage, but a lot of people from Greencastle work in Indy. Enough that we are technically considered a "suburb" of Indy, even though it's 50 miles away with miles of corn fields in between.

I can't move closer to my job; nor would I want to, but I am starting to seriously look at jobs that are closer to my home. Too bad they all suck. lol

I have heard (but don't have data) that things are going to start getting more local due to gas prices. Meaning business and workplaces may start opening more in the suburbs and small towns instead of keeping things centered in the cities, to cut down how much people have to drive to get to those places. I think that could be a good thing. It could help small town business. I have even heard of some manufacturing companies shifting from central locations in the US where they have to ship out to everywhere else to starting lots of smaller manufacturing locations spread throughout the US to make things more local and reduce shipping costs. There are also a lot of places switching to 4 day work weeks to reduce gas usage. I am not sure if it works for everyone but it definitely would work for people like my husband who has to drive to Tampa. He has tried convincing his boss about it or at least being able to work from home one day per week but it's a big company and they don't change their minds about anything easily.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

And how much is the rent now to this new place Peaches moved to compared to where she used to live? Or how much is the property taxes and mortgage at new place compared to old place she drove from, sometimes you bite your nose off to spite your face...

Good points, zqt!

I crunched the numbers, I could move out another 40 miles west into Pennsyltucky and still break even. The increase in commuting costs (assuming $4.50/gallon gas) plus added depreciation to my vehicle would be almost exactly offset by lower property taxes. And I'd have my own place, not a th.

Edited June 23, 2008 by VJ Troll