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I don't like working with agents based on past experience, especially since I am not sure where I want to live - and they tend to show you crap & are geographically restricted. Thanks guys - I emailed / called 7 people in the last two days from CL.in a few areas (quieter city areas and also some burbs) - but not one replied! Is that crazy or is that just how it is now? I haven't looked for an apartment in 3 years, so maybe things are going faster than they can remove them from CL (or too lazy to remove from cl). Honestly, I can't give you a single example of a downside. There is always a project for me to work on, or if I just need a change of scenery I have tons of space and rooms I love. In NYC if I had to stay home alone for any length of time I'd feel like the walls were starting to close in on me. But now that I have a decent kitchen and easy access to great grocery stores, I don't mind cooking at home and having people over - or not. My social life in NYC revolved going to restaurants with friends and the occasional bar or club. I spent the long weekend getting my outdoor space ready for the summer and reading by the pool. There are a few really great restaurants, and I see a lot of concerts locally, at least once a month. I've developed a nice little social circle locally - mixed gay, lesbian, straight, singles, couples, that largely evolved through connections of my NYC crowd. My BF chose to stay in NYC and he's here almost every weekend (or I go see him and stay in the city). I have friends (mostly from the city but often out of towners) visit at least 1x a month. I have a pool and am adding a hot tub and outdoor fireplace this fall. At first I was concerned the house was too big for me (3-4 br, 3 bath, LR, DR, family room, office, kitchen and laundry). I made the move for all the same reasons you are considering but more so, when I saw how much house/property I could get for the same budget I had for an apartment. OP, I moved out of NYC after 20+ years to a Westchester suburb not far from where I grew up.