Relocating to Chicagoland? Find the Perfect New Community for You
)
Buying a home out of state may come with a few additional considerations, but distance doesn't have to stand between you and your next home. With online research, virtual tours, digital paperwork, and help from a knowledgeable local team, much of the homebuying process can be managed from wherever you are.
Whether you are relocating for a new job, moving closer to family, searching for a different lifestyle, or preparing for retirement, the key is to plan ahead. Use this guide to learn how to buy a house out of state, what to research, and how to feel more confident about making a long-distance move.
Can I Buy a Home in Another State?
Yes, you can buy a home in another state while continuing to live in your current one. Buyers commonly begin their home search, apply for financing, tour properties, review documents, and sometimes even close before relocating.
The overall process is similar to purchasing a home locally. However, buying a home out of state requires more careful coordination because property laws, taxes, insurance costs, closing practices, and real estate markets can differ by location. Working with professionals who serve the area where you plan to buy can help you understand what to expect.
How to Buy a House Out of State
If you are moving to another state and buying a house, breaking the process into manageable steps can make the experience feel less overwhelming.
1. Determine What You Want From Your New Location
Before comparing individual homes, consider what you want daily life to look like. Your priorities can help you narrow a large search area into a more manageable list of cities, suburbs, and communities.
Ask yourself:
- How close do I want to be to work, school, family, or an airport?
- Do I prefer an urban, suburban, or more rural setting?
- Which recreational opportunities and amenities are important to me?
- What type of commute am I comfortable with?
- Do I need access to public transportation?
- How much space do I want inside and outside my home?
- Am I looking for a low-maintenance lifestyle?
- Do I want a home that is ready now or one that can be personalized?
Creating a list of needs, preferences, and deal breakers will give your local homebuying team a clearer picture of what you are looking for.
2. Research the Area Like a Local
Finding a home you love is only part of the decision. When buying a house in another state, you also need to understand the community surrounding it.
Explore commute routes at the times of day you would normally travel. Look for nearby grocery stores, parks, restaurants, healthcare providers, entertainment, and other everyday conveniences. If schools matter to your household, research district boundaries and verify school assignments directly with the district because boundaries may change.
Online maps, street-level imagery, community websites, local news, and municipal planning resources can help you become familiar with the area before visiting. You can also ask a local New Home Consultant or real estate professional about nearby amenities and planned development.
If your schedule allows, visit more than once and at different times of day. A weekend tour may introduce you to the area's recreational offerings, while a weekday visit can give you a more realistic sense of traffic and everyday activity.
3. Compare the Total Cost of Living
Home prices are only one part of affordability. Your potential expenses may change when you cross state lines, even when the home itself fits comfortably within your budget.
Research the following costs:
- State and local taxes
- Property taxes
- Homeowners insurance
- HOA fees, where applicable
- Utilities
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Healthcare
- Home maintenance
- Moving and travel expenses
Insurance needs and rates may also differ based on regional weather risks and property characteristics. Depending on the location, buyers may need to consider coverage related to flooding, wind, fire, or other conditions.
Looking at your complete monthly budget, rather than the purchase price alone, can help you make a more informed comparison between locations.
4. Connect With a Lender Early
Before you begin seriously shopping for a home, speak with a lender that can assist with a purchase in your destination state. Your lender can help you understand your potential budget, loan options, estimated monthly payment, and anticipated closing costs.
A preapproval can also identify financial or documentation questions early in the process. Be prepared to provide information about your income, assets, debts, employment, and credit history.
If your move involves starting a new job, changing employers, working remotely, or selling your current home, discuss those details with the lender at the beginning. They may affect the documentation or timeline required for your loan.
Loan programs, assistance options, and underwriting requirements may vary by lender, property type, and location, so it is important to compare offers and ask questions before making a decision.
5. Build a Dependable Local Team
Local knowledge becomes especially valuable when you cannot easily visit every property or appointment. Depending on your purchase, your team could include:
- A New Home Consultant or real estate agent
- A mortgage lender
- A title or settlement professional
- A home inspector
- An insurance agent
- A moving company
- A tax, financial, or legal professional when needed
Look for professionals who regularly work with relocating buyers and are comfortable communicating through phone calls, video meetings, email, and secure online platforms.
Before beginning your search, agree on communication preferences. For example, decide whether you want a summary after each appointment, a detailed video walkthrough, or immediate updates when a home meeting your criteria becomes available.
How Do I Tour Homes From Another State?
You do not necessarily need to travel each time you want to see a property. Many builders, sellers, and real estate professionals provide digital tools that allow buyers to explore homes remotely.
Explore Virtual Tours
A virtual tour can help you understand a home's layout and how its spaces connect. It can also help you eliminate options that do not fit your needs before scheduling a live appointment or traveling to the area.
When viewing a virtual tour, consider:
- The flow between rooms
- Bedroom placement
- Storage
- Natural light
- Outdoor space
- Work-from-home areas
- Everyday functionality
- Potential furniture placement
If you are considering new construction, touring a similar model or completed home may help you better understand the floorplan, even if the exact home is not available to visit.
Request a Live Video Walkthrough
A live video tour gives you the opportunity to direct the person holding the camera. Ask them to show details that may not appear in listing photography, such as closets, views from windows, street conditions, neighboring homes, utility areas, and the route through the community.
You might also ask them to:
- Open cabinets and closets
- Show room transitions
- Walk around the home's exterior
- Demonstrate noise levels
- Film the surrounding streets
- Show the distance to community amenities
- Point out visible wear or unfinished work
Consider recording the walkthrough, when everyone involved permits it, so you can review the home later.
Plan a Focused In-Person Visit
If you can visit before buying, make the most of the trip by planning several appointments in advance. Tour your leading home choices, explore different communities, test your potential commute, and visit the places you would use regularly.
Rather than seeing as many homes as possible, focus on the options that already meet your most important criteria. This can make the trip more productive and leave time to experience the surrounding area.
Can I Buy a House Without Seeing It in Person?
Yes, it is possible to buy a house without seeing it in person, sometimes referred to as buying a home sight unseen. However, buyers should take additional steps to independently evaluate the home and its surroundings.
Before making a decision:
- Review floorplans, photos, virtual tours, and available disclosures.
- Request a live video walkthrough that includes interior and exterior details.
- Research the neighborhood through multiple independent sources.
- Ask a trusted local contact to visit when possible.
- Understand the contingencies and deadlines in your purchase agreement.
- Arrange an independent inspection when appropriate.
- Confirm how the final walkthrough will be completed.
Why Consider a New Construction Home When Moving Out of State?
New construction can be an appealing option for relocating buyers who want a home designed around current lifestyles and the reassurance of builder warranty coverage. Depending on the builder and community, parts of the process may also be completed remotely.
Choose a Home That Fits Your Timeline
A To-Be-Built home may provide opportunities to select a floorplan, homesite, and available design options. If you have a firm moving date, a Quick Move-In home can offer the benefits of a brand-new home on a shorter timeline.
Because construction schedules can change due to permitting, weather, labor, material availability, and other factors, discuss your timing needs early. Your New Home Consultant can help you compare available options and understand estimated completion dates.
Explore Homes and Communities Virtually
Interactive floorplans, model home photography, video tours, online community maps, and virtual appointments can help you evaluate new construction from another state.
A New Home Consultant may also be able to take you on a live walkthrough of a model, show you available homesites, explain included features, and provide updates throughout the process.
Start With a Brand-New Home
A newly built home may offer modern layouts, current materials, energy-efficient features, and fewer immediate renovation projects than an older resale property. Actual features, efficiency, warranties, and maintenance needs will depend on the home, builder, and community, so review the specific details before purchasing.
How Do You Coordinate an Out-of-State Closing?
Closing practices vary by state, lender, and settlement provider. Some buyers may be able to sign certain documents electronically, while others may need to appear in person or complete notarized paperwork through another approved method.
Electronic closings can take several forms, including hybrid processes that combine paper and electronic documents. Remote online notarization may also be available, subject to applicable state laws and the requirements of the lender, title company, and other parties.
Ask these questions early:
- Can the closing be completed remotely?
- Which documents can be signed electronically?
- Will any signatures require notarization?
- When will I receive my final documents?
- How should closing funds be delivered?
- Who can confirm wiring instructions?
- Do I need to be physically present for any part of the process?
Review your Closing Disclosure and other documents carefully before signing. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that buyers generally receive the Closing Disclosure three business days before closing, giving them time to compare the final loan terms and costs with their Loan Estimate.
Be particularly careful with wire instructions. Mortgage closing scams may involve fraudulent emails that appear to contain last-minute changes. Verify all payment instructions using a trusted phone number you already have, not contact information included in an unexpected email.
Create a Realistic Relocation Timeline
Your home purchase and physical move are closely connected, but they may not happen on the same day. Build flexibility into your timeline, especially if you need to sell a current home, start a new job, enroll children in school, or coordinate long-distance movers.
Include time for:
- Mortgage preapproval and underwriting
- Home tours and community research
- Contract deadlines
- Inspection and appraisal
- Selling your current home
- Packing and moving
- Utility setup
- Address changes
- School or childcare arrangements
- Driver's license and vehicle registration updates
- A temporary housing plan, if needed
If your purchase and move do not align perfectly, consider whether short-term housing, storage, or a flexible moving service could help bridge the gap.
After moving, remember to update your address with USPS and other applicable federal, state, and local services. Depending on your situation, that may include tax agencies, driver's license and vehicle registration offices, benefit programs, and voter registration.
Making a Long-Distance Home Search Feel Closer
Buying a home out of state can feel like a big undertaking, but you do not have to navigate it alone. The right combination of research, virtual tools, local knowledge, and advance planning can help you make informed decisions at every stage.
If you are preparing for an out-of-state move, connect with the M/I Homes team in your destination market. Our Internet Sales Managers can help you explore communities, compare floorplans, tour homes virtually, and find an available home that works with your relocation plans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Home Out of State
Can I buy a home in another state before I move?
Yes. You can search for homes, apply for financing, sign a purchase agreement, and potentially close before relocating. The exact process depends on the property, lender, state laws, and closing requirements.
How do I buy a house in another state remotely?
Begin by researching the area, setting a budget, obtaining mortgage preapproval, and connecting with a local New Home Consultant or real estate professional. You can then use virtual tours, live video walkthroughs, electronic documents, and available remote closing options to manage portions of the purchase from a distance.
Can I get a mortgage for a home in another state?
It is possible to finance a home in another state if you meet the lender's requirements. Work with a lender that can originate loans in the state where the property is located, and explain whether the home will be your primary residence, second home, or investment property. Those distinctions may affect available terms and qualification requirements.
Do I need a new job before buying a house out of state?
Not necessarily, but your employment and income must satisfy your lender's requirements. If you are changing jobs, relocating with your current employer, or continuing to work remotely, discuss your arrangement with the lender before shopping.
Should I rent or buy when moving to another state?
The right choice depends on your finances, timeline, familiarity with the area, and long-term plans. Renting first may provide flexibility, while buying may make sense if you understand the market, expect to stay, and are financially prepared for homeownership. Consider speaking with financial, tax, and real estate professionals about your circumstances.
Is it safe to buy a house without seeing it in person?
It can be done, but buyers should use multiple forms of due diligence. Request a live video tour, research the surrounding area, review available documents, arrange an independent inspection, and understand the protections and deadlines in the purchase contract.
Can I close on a home from another state?
Possibly. Some transactions offer electronic documents, hybrid closings, mobile notaries, or remote online notarization. Availability depends on applicable laws and the requirements of your lender and settlement provider.
How long does it take to buy a home out of state?
The timeline depends on financing, local market conditions, the type of home, inspections, appraisals, closing requirements, and whether you must sell another property. A new home that is already under construction may follow a different timeline than a to-be-built home or resale property.
Is new construction a good option for relocating buyers?
It can be. New construction may offer modern floorplans, current features, builder warranty coverage, virtual resources, and different timing options. Buyers who need to move sooner may want to explore available Quick Move-In homes, while those with more time may prefer to build a home with available personalization choices.
Recommended Stories
A Guide to Moving to Dallas: Big Energy, Bright Futures, and Living in North Texas
