If you already own a home, the decision of whether to move or not can be a dilemma, even if you are bursting at the seams!

While a big chunk of the dilemma can be a financial one, it's not the whole picture by a long way.

Your home is where you've made your memories and lived your lives. It's often where you have put your extra hard earned money, time and care into making it just the way you want it.

Our homes give us a sense of security and roots. Considering a move can be exciting and unsettling at the same time. Depending on your circumstances, you could be experiencing all kinds of emotional concerns such as:

    - should we be moving now?
    - is it fair to the children?
    - what about their school and their friends?
    - do we really need a bigger house?
    - what if we don't get the price we need on our house?
    - what if we move and one of us loses our job?

Realizing that a move can be an uncomfortable exercise, look at solutions for the long term to make the best long-term decision.

How long? Probably not as long as you'd expect. Stats Canada says that on average Canadians move every 7 years. The average number of years between moves tends to be less if you're a young family and more if you're retired or have teenagers (it's particularly tough to move teenagers if they're changing schools and leaving friends behind!).

Get clear on what your options are. This is an information gathering process.

Remember, everything has a price! What is the price of staying? Perhaps it's the limitations the home presents versus the price of moving which are usually short term upheaval and financial considerations.

Nothing is entirely without risk because it's tough to see into the future! Be careful of being too risk adverse (sounds like an oxymoron!). Minimize your risks with careful planning and good real estate choices. Real estate can be a great investment as well as a quality of life booster.

If you have a niggle about your current home that makes you feel unsettled, don't let it niggle at you for years! (sprucing up the home to get rid of the niggle usually doesn't work). Our homes are a very important element in our quality of life and it's important to love and enjoy our homes. Sometimes we outgrow our homes, as our needs change. Ask yourself: 

     - what do we want that we don't have now?
     - are we looking for a lifestyle change?

Of course, there are always the practicalities. Sure you'd like a main floor family room, but maybe it turns out that for the next couple of years it's not feasible because of the new car loan - then it becomes a goal to work towards. Check it out with your agent or mortgage broker.

Sometimes the decision to move from a beloved long-term residence boils down to the practicalities of needing to down size, or not wanting to take care of the large yard anymore.

Other observations we made along the way;

Because most of us live such busy lives, there is never an ideal time to move. Make your moving plans a serious priority and give it the time and effort that it deserves.

Space is a wonderful luxury, particularly for a growing family! Get a house as big as you can afford while the children are growing (take it from me, you'll be especially glad when they're teenagers!)

It's easier to move younger children. The older the children, the harder it is, if you are considering moving out of the neighbourhood and school area.

Surprisingly, for many people, a sense of community is more important once the children have flown the coup and they've retired. To retire amongst a sea of new homes is usually a mistake.

New and old neighborhoods are two very different worlds. Clarify what's important to you.