A recent survey by the National Association of Realtors indicates that proximity to friends and family and being able to host are significant factors when choosing a home.
The NAR survey found that 43 percent of home buyers considered location of friends and family when selecting a neighborhood, and were often unwilling to compromise on the issue. Other popular reasons for selecting a particular home included heating and cooling costs (36 percent), a better price (32 percent), and energy-efficient appliances (23 percent).