Being happy about where you live — the physical space, the ambience of the neighborhood, even the price you pay — can have a major impact on your attitude toward all the other parts of your life: your job, your friendships, your studies, and even your relationship with your family. That means that finding the right place to live is one of your priorities, even if looking for a home is a continuing process of trial and error.

Your lifestyle is the most important factor to consider when you’re deciding where to live. Everybody’s housing wish list is a little different:

• If you’re away from home for a good part of the day, you might value an easy commute over a great back yard
  
• If reducing your living costs or increasing your living space is more important than convenience, you might decide to live farther away — though you need to factor in the cost and the timing of your commute
  
• If you’re single and your parents live close by, you might also think about living with them for a while until you can afford a place where you’d really like to live