With hybrid and remote work the new norm, homebuyers are rethinking where and how they live – and what their next town needs to offer.
First, the pandemic hit, and everyone was working from home. For many, it was a scramble to turn alcoves and kitchen tables into productive workspaces. Then, the norm shifted to hybrid – a few days home and a few days in the office. Now, we’re hearing a variety of schedules from our clients. Some commute five days a week, and some are 100% remote. Some are in the office a few days each week and working from home on the others.
So what has that done to the suburban search? In a word: lots.
“With people shifting to a hybrid schedule or fully remote work, we saw clients expanding their search radius,” says Patti Natiss, Head of National Strategy & Emerging Markets at Suburban Jungle. “If you could work from anywhere or only need to commute occasionally, why not look at towns over an hour outside of the city?” That, she notes, gave people even more flexibility in their search. “Wherever they landed, though, most of my clients wanted home office space – that was a common ask.”
Patti says that many clients are still hybrid and some companies have adopted this work culture permanently. People are rethinking their work-from-home arrangements, whether fully remote or hybrid.
“It’s almost five years since the pandemic, and remote and hybrid work continue to be the topic of conversation on our strategy calls,” she says. “Now that the novelty has worn off a bit, people are settling into what work looks like in the long term – and, again, that’s shifting how they think about life in the suburbs.”
Some of those considerations?
A Work-from-Home Culture
In some towns, train platforms, bus stops, and park-and-rides are packed every morning, with commuters heading into the city. In others, stay-at-home parents are the norm.
“We talk a lot about ‘parent culture’ in the suburbs,” Patti says. “You don’t want to be the only parent commuting three or four hours a day and missing games and school activities and get-togethers. You also don’t want to be the only stay-at-home parent in a town of commuters. Same goes for remote workers. It’s nice to have that sense of community – people who ‘get’ your schedule and routines because they’re doing the same.”
To that end, she adds, being in a community where working from home is common, you’ll no doubt sync up with other WFH’ers and can make plans to grab a cup of coffee, quick bite, or even meet up and work together.
“Remote work offers unbelievable flexibility,” Patti says. “But it’s hard not to miss the water cooler chatter. If you’re in a town where remote work is common, you’ll no doubt be able to find people to connect with who would love to sync up.”
Space to Work (and Socialize)
To that end, working remotely can feel a little isolating from time to time, especially if you spent years or even decades in a bustling office. Ideally, look for towns that have structured or unstructured remote workspace – anything from affordable office rentals in shared spaces to as-needed hot desks, conference rooms, or even a remote work-friendly cafe, restaurant, or other venue.
“Sometimes you just need to get out,” says Patti, “but you still need to be productive. If that sounds like you, be sure you’re looking at towns with those outside workspace options – even somewhere you can go for a few hours.”
Towns like Montclair offer a number of accessible spots for remote workers, including LiquidSpace and Regus. In Larchmont, locals head to The Idea Kitchen while in Stamford, Workpoint and Velocity Flexible Workspace are go-to’s for remote and hybrid workers, with conference rooms, hot desks, office space, and even mail forwarding. These are also great places to network.
If the towns you’re touring don’t have a traditional coworking space, don’t worry. Most have a few spots that are ideal for hunkering down and tackling your 9-to-5. Even if you don’t plan to work outside of your home often, being around other remote workers or, at least, in a vibrant setting outside of your house can be a major boost for productivity.
“Check online, check social media,” says Patti. “See where freelancers and remote workers are heading. Starbuck’s? Gregory’s Coffee? A local diner or cafe? Chances are your future town has at least a few spots you can work in if you need a change of scenery. While you’re exploring, be sure and swing by.”
Flexible Childcare Options
If you have kids – and those kids aren’t in school yet – traditional childcare options are often the way to go for work-from-home parents. But, if your kids are in school full-day or half-day, finding care for a few hours a day can be tricky.
“If your kids are in preschool or elementary school, is there an after-school or extended day option?” says Patti. “Juggling school pick up and having the kids home for the last few hours of your work day can be challenging. If there’s an easy transition to afternoon care – a program at their school or a bus that picks them up and takes them to aftercare, for example, you can get a full work day in before shifting into parenting mode.” This is especially important, Patti notes, if you have clients in different time zones who may just be getting started when the school day ends. “If your kids are out at 2:30 on the East Coast and you have clients or colleagues on the West Coast, it’s the beginning of their day – maybe not the best time to deal with snacks and carpools and homework!”
Chappaqua and Armonk, NY school districts, for example, provide an activity bus to transport students to after-school programs. The Greenwich school district offers an extensive after-school program with activities held at school called “Afters.” Your Suburban Jungle Strategist can advise you on the programs available for each town.
Like anything, your remote or hybrid work life can have a significant impact on your suburban search. Be sure to discuss this with your Suburban Jungle Strategist, with an eye on finding towns that check all of your boxes.
Want to find the perfect town for your remote schedule? Let’s talk! Schedule your free Suburbs Strategy session now.
