While many agreed the premise of the show seems to steer first-time home buyers towards more expensive housing, few of us could agree on whether or not the featured couples could afford such housing. Part of the problem is key elements of an affordability equation are often missing – such as income, other debts, etc.

An even larger discussion developed regarding the regional variance in housing prices. I must say, even I was surprised by some of the comments (and there were a bunch of them – 91 at last count!).

In response to my suggestion the couple should look for a house in the $200,000 range (half their intended budget), reader “Cat” commented:

I completely agree with your post, however, in the city I live in a you cannot get a house for $200,000 even in the worst part of town right by the railroad tracks. You’d be hard pressed even to find a crappy condo for that low of a price here.

As a guy who grew up in a $27,000 (at the time it was purchased) house built in the 1960′s, and purchased a decade later, that was hard to believe, but no doubt true considering the grossly inflated real estate markets around the country. Of course, everything is relative. Areas with high real estate values also usually offer higher salaries, making these more expensive homes affordable to potential home-buyers.

Still, I was struck by the number of people who indicated they could not find a decent home for less than $450,000. My gut reaction – why not move? But it’s not that easy.

People tend to settle close to family, where they graduated school, or near job opportunities in their particular field. Others may enjoy a particular climate or part of the country. It’s not easy to just pack up your stuff, leave behind family, and move clear across the country.

I’m fortunate in that I live in a relatively small town in a very reasonable real estate market. Home values here are among some of the most affordable in the country. It was a consideration we made when accepting a new job ad relocating here some six years ago now. It just so happened to be the same city my mom lived in, and before she passed away (a year ago today, in fact), we enjoyed being closer to family.

Comparing Apples to Apples: Housing as a Percentage of Income

We spend about 15% of our after-tax income on housing. I’m comfortable with that figure, even though when we were shopping for a home those involved in real estate tried to convince us we could easily afford to mortgage 25%-30% of our take home pay on monthly payments. No thanks.

The reason we avoided taking on a larger mortgage is risk. Risk of job loss, illness, income reduction, etc. should weigh heavily on you when deciding how much house to buy. Instead, risk is often an after thought. Oh, that won’t happen to us. We have plenty of savings. I can always find another job. Trust me; it will, you don’t, and you might not.

It’s worth pointing out that if I moved to another part of the country, and made significantly more money than I do now, then 15% of my income would buy a more expensive house (not necessarily more house, just a more expensive one).

Unless the couple in that show were bringing home $20,000 a month, a $3,000 a month mortgage was probably considerably more than 15% of their income. It may have been more in line with 30% of their take home pay, and if that works for them, they can probably pull it off, assuming nothing goes wrong over the next 30 years.

Relocating for More Affordable Housing

So the big question is this: Would you consider moving to a new city if housing prices were cheaper, and you could buy more house for a lower percentage of your monthly income? After all, these days more people are considering relocating to end unemployment; why not relocate to spend less on housing, often a family’s largest budget category.

Obviously, one would have to consider a variety of other economic factors such as general cost of living, average salaries and job opportunities, quality of education, crime rate, climate, and very personal matters such as proximity to friends and family.

It is certainly not an easy decision, but one I would strongly consider obligating myself to such an expensive housing payment. By the way, I found this Best Places to Live in America post which lists average home price. You can see from the list there is a considerable range, even among the top places to live.

In the 1800s, job-seekers were exhorted to ‘Go West, Young Man.’

In these recessionary times, it’s become ‘Go Anywhere, Young Man.’

As the unemployment rate climbs and it takes longer to find a job, more people are being forced to consider relocation to a new town for better job opportunities.

In fact, if you’ve been job-hunting for a while, you’ve likely expanded your search to cities far enough away that you’d have to make a move.

However, this long-distance job search can only go so far – travel expenses for interviews can add up, and you miss out on crucial face-to-face networking opportunities.

Plus, employers don’t want to pay relocation costs, so they’re less willing to talk to someone from out of town. Also, an out-to-town hire can take a while to start work, and there’s always the possibility the candidate will get cold feet and back out.

That said, moving to a new city without a job can be downright terrifying: you don’t have a regular income stream, and you won’t have as many friends or family nearby.

Still, a job’s a job.

If you want to move to a new town to help your job search, here are some ways to maximize your chances for success, while leaving some wiggle room in case it doesn’t work out — it’s not about taking a risk, it’s taking a calculated risk.

1. A cushion

Budget at least 8 months’ worth of expenses, including deposits for an apartment and rent.

The need for savings is obvious, but don’t forget the confidence factor: Getting a job is a lot about confidence, and having a nice financial cushion will help you come across as more confident (and less desperate) to a prospective employer.

It will also let you job-hunt without having to pick up a part-time job – you can throw yourself 100% into looking for a job in your field.

2. Using that couch?

If you have any friends or relatives in the town you’re looking to move to, ask if you can crash at their place for awhile. You might be surprised about how willing people are to help, particularly in this economy.

Not only will this allow you to save money, it will also give you more time to look for your own place eventually – don’t rely on the kindness of friends and family for too long.

3. Account-ability

One of the first things you should do when you get to a new place is open a bank account. You don’t want to fritter away your precious savings on ATM fees, and it’s much easier dealing with a local bank should you have issues with your account. You also might be able to find deals for people opening a new account.

And if you’re looking for rental housing, having a local bank will put a landlord more at ease.

4. Plant light roots

You’re more likely to rent than buy at your new place, so make sure you understand any ramifications from breaking a lease, just in case things don’t work out.

Also, consider keeping a storage space in your old town. This will lessen your need for a big apartment, while also helping you save on your moving costs.

This is also a good time to do an inventory of the possessions in your life, and whether you really need them – will you ever wear that high school letterman jacket again?

5. Plan B

Think about money-making opportunities if you don’t find a job right away. Consider part-time work in retail or any other field that you have experience in. If you frequent any retail shops regularly, get friendly with the staff in case you ever need to ask about work.

However, don’t plan out TOO far in advance. Life has many twists and turns that you can’t anticipate, so be careful of over-planning.

6. Network

Now that you’re on the ground, go go go – meet as many people as you can, join networking groups, industry groups, and attend any social media meet-ups you can find for the area.

When you meet people, be clear about why you moved, and what kind of job you’re looking for.

Remember: Finding a job is now your job, and networking is the best way to do that.

7. Get to Know the Town

Your time there shouldn’t be all work. Get involved socially – play recreational sports, find some hobbyist groups, join a church or synagogue.

Hopefully you’ve chosen a town that you’ve always wanted to live in. Get out and enjoy it – feeling more optimistic about your new home will make you more optimistic and confident in your job-search.

8. Start a Blog

Start writing about your adventures in your new town, and writing about issues in your field. You can impress potential employers with your attitude, your knowledge of the field, and your gumption at starting a whole new life in a brand new city.

And remember to keep it local. Blogging about local events and Tweeting with the locals will introduce you to people who can help you with the job search.

9. Talk to Those Who’ve Been in Your Shoes

You’re not the first person who’s made this kind of leap. Look for other people who’ve made similar moves, and talk to them about their experience.

Just knowing that someone else did this before – and succeeded at it – will make you feel better.

10. Taxing time

Don’t forget that some job-hunting expenses are deductible, as are moving costs in certain situations. Find out what you might be eligible for come tax-time, and make sure you save receipts for documentation.

If you’ve had some taxable income in the year, getting a fat rebate will be a welcome influx of cash.