How Close is Too Close to Live Near Family?

People want to be closer to their families in this stressful time, just not too close.

A recent Ally Home survey found that 67% of more than 2,000 respondents wish they lived within a 45-minute drive of their family, which is an increase of 40% from April 2019. However, consumers don’t want to live too close to their families. Forty-three percent of respondents said they don’t want to live close enough to family that they would easily be able to do a quick pop-in just to say hi. This is an increase of 6% from the April 2019 survey, when only 37% of people didn’t want family to live that close.

Regardless, most people do miss seeing their families, especially as the pandemic progresses. Sixty-one percent of people said it is “very difficult” to still not be able to see families in person, but they appreciate the ability to have video chats, like Zoom or FaceTime. Millennials (71%) and Generation X (64%) felt especially strongly about this. In the last year, 61% of people have canceled scheduled trips to see family.

“The pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways, particularly in keeping families apart for extended periods of time,” says Glenn Brunker, president of Ally Home. “Priorities have shifted for many Americans who now desire to live closer to their families, and finding their next home may be challenging in today’s real estate environment. It’s important for consumers to do their homework upfront before starting their home search to understand the process and requirements.”