The coronavirus pandemic has caused a significant shift in the way people around the globe live and work. To combat the spread of the virus, we are limiting our time in public and practicing social distance. Whole families perform essential tasks from their homes, such as education, employment, shopping, and even healthcare appointments, through a monitor and internet access. As a result, the workplace is experiencing the largest-scale remote work experience in recent history, with almost seven out of every ten employees working from home.
No doubt, Covid-19 has had a significant effect on the hundreds of business sectors that built themselves around the previous state of the world. Real estate has been particularly hard hit as individuals across the globe battle to get their finances in order and rebound from loss of employment. It stands to reason that there have been many publications detailing the pandemic’s effect on the housing market. However, most of these stories claim a massive exodus from major cities as a direct result of Covid-19. T
Telepresence is causing a travel phenomena. People may now go on with their lives remotely from any location. As a result, individuals are abandoning highly populated regions in favor of suburbs or smaller towns throughout the nation – at least for the time being.
A Redfin article from October 2020 asked individuals why they would relocate to another city if they were to do so. They backed up their claim with search data showing people in big cities looking for houses elsewhere. However, we must consider if this truly reflects the desire to migrate or just curiosity. Other stories mention a significant drop in Seattle average rental prices, implying that the reason may be a substantial exodus of tech employees from the city. Considering the nation’s present condition and the devastating consequences of the pandemic, these figures seem to make sense. However, before we rush to any conclusions, we need to consider if the reduction in rent results from migration out of these places and successful moving and storage companies.
Health and well-being improvements
Better health and well-being are a significant force behind this rising trend. Air and noise pollution and the stress of living in a constantly crowded environment are all the more prevalent in cities. In addition to improved air quality, moving out of the city reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Also, the additional space, the time spent outside, and the outdoor activities all contribute to improved mental health. Nothing beats the fresh air of the countryside or the less busy suburban neighborhood. That’s why many people are considering leaving the big cities to have a better environment at home.
Stay Away from Traffic
In a big city, it’s nearly impossible to get away from the traffic. Likewise, no one enjoys rushing to and from work during rush hour or spending hours on trains, metros, and buses to beat the crowds to the office. Travel and traffic are busier and more unpleasant than ever before as routes become more crowded and metropolitan populations increase. Unsurprisingly, an increasing number of us are looking for quieter locations away from the hustle and bustle. Besides, we don’t need the traffic headache, do we?
Noise Reduction
After a week in the country, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that the noise level has changed. Construction activity is one of the most significant sources of noise we hear every day, besides sirens and car horns. Near the Astor Place Subway, the noise level is 101 decibels, whereas, in Central Park, it’s 54 decibels.
Due to the increase in urban noise pollution, many city dwellers are looking to move to find some peace in their new surroundings. For individuals with children, especially infants and those approaching retirement age, this is particularly essential. There is still hope for those who want to live quietly in a city since Zurich, Vienna, Oslo, Munich, and Stockholm are among the world’s quietest cities!
Safety Concern
Safety is one of the main reasons people choose to live in the countryside and away from big cities. Even though some places in the world have the highest murder rates (Los Cabos in Mexico tops the list), many individuals who live in the world’s busiest cities worry about their safety.
Like every anecdotal piece or new study, we offer just a peek into the habits of a portion of the population. While individuals are moving to different places, many remain, providing space for additional observations to arrive at migration conclusions in the middle of a pandemic.
