Consider commuting costs and lifestyle when buying a home

The calculations looked good when buying my first single-family home more than a decade ago. I had considered the mortgage payments, property taxes, fees, insurance and even the future upgrades I wanted to make.

What I failed to fully consider was the cost of the commute.

The house itself was perfect for my growing family — brand new, five bedrooms, walking distance to a park, near a supermarket, energy efficient with central AC and a fenced yard. The problem was, we were rarely home.

Numerous studies have Honolulu ranked among the worst commutes in the nation. And it seems to be getting worse.

Like thousands of others, I was spending about two hours a day on the road commuting to and from downtown. That’s about 10-plus hours a week. And they were often stressful times, especially when there was an accident, we were late or the kids were hungry, fussy or needed to go shi-shi.

Those are hours that I could’ve been spending with the family, reading, exercising or relaxing.

Studies show that the stress of gridlock can affect your health.

A 2012 study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that people who drove longer distances were more likely to have higher blood pressure and bigger waistlines. Also, the farther the commute, the less physical activity the person was likely to get.

I thought I could handle. I lasted five years and eventually bought another home closer to town — smaller, older, no AC and needing a lot of work. But it has saved me a lot of time and money.

Knowing your commute can be as important as knowing your monthly payment. While the payments on your 30-year mortgage should remain the same for decades, your commute will only worsen.

When buying a home, it’s important to consider the hidden costs of commuting. Consider the cost to your pocketbook and lifestyle. That’s something that I failed to do.

Tips to consider when buying a home

>> Determine your commute tolerance. Test the commute during morning and afternoon rush hours to see the traffic flow and how long it takes on average. Can you see yourself in this traffic every day?

>> Calculate how much gas, oil changes, tires and other vehicle maintenance will cost you.

>> Consider public transportation or carpooling to save the cost and stress of driving. It could also save parking costs, too.

>> If the rail is ever completed, consider a neighborhood near a future rail station.

>> Consider lifestyle. Besides your workplace, is the home near your family, hobbies, church, schools, children’s sports and other activities?

>> See if there are options to work from home, or start your workday slightly later in the day to avoid peak traffic times.

Jaymes Song is a top-producing agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage Realty in Kahala. He can be reached at 228-3332 or JaymesS@BetterHawaii.com.