Moving to a new city can be a little nerve-wracking, but there’s no better place to get settled and connected than right here in Louisville. Louisville is a big small town, relatively easy to navigate, and the people are super friendly and helpful. Don’t be afraid to tell people you are a newbie, ask for recommendations, and explore the city, as a matter of fact we encourage it! There is no better way to get the lay of the land than actually walking the walk. Below are a few tips to help with you successfully transition to a new city.
Do your Research
Spend time researching your new city before you arrive so you can hit the ground running when you arrive. We have great info and connections at New2Lou.com to get you started and they you can dive deeper into specific areas of interest to you. Connect with local organizations like New2Lou before you arrive. They can provide valuable city information, connect you with other local organizations, help you engage with other people in town. Looking for places to live, volunteer opportunities, networking groups? Ask people in these organizations for help and recommendations.
Decide Where to Live
Finding the right neighborhood is one of the most important things to do when moving to a new city. Unfortunately it can be hard to find information about neighborhoods if you are unfamiliar with the city, but don’t worry newbie; we’ve got your back. We’ve broken down Louisville’s most promising neighborhoods on our neighborhoods page to help you find the perfect spot to start your next chapter. If you’re in town, drive through the neighborhoods and if you have time grab lunch and shop around to get a feel for what it will be like to live there.
Find a Home
Once you’ve identified one or two good neighborhood fits, the next step is to research housing options and prices. Lucky you, Louisville is fairly cost-effective compared to other pier markets. And if you are moving from a big city, you are in for a real treat. First decide whether your want to rent or buy. General rule of thumb: If you are planning to live in Louisville for a minimum of 2 years, purchasing a home might be the right fit for you. If you are going to invest, it’s best to reach out to a professional like our co-founder Amador Delatorre. Their services are free for buyers and they have the expertise in the local market so why not use one.
If you decide to rent, you can search for options using tools like Zillow, Realtor.com, Craigslist. Do some cost comparisons and weigh the pros and cons of your options. Some apartments include utilities and offer amenities like a gym, media lounge, laundry, etc. Make sure you factor these into your comparison. A couple of great urban options are Whiskey Row Lofts, AMP Apartments, and the 800 City Tower Apartments.
Make New Friends
Don’t worry newbie, we’ve got this one covered (wink). New2Lou hosts socials every 2nd Wednesday of the month at a different location around town. The goal is to not only introduce you to new folks in town, but cool new places too. All you have to do is show up at our monthly socials and you’ll meet some great new folks. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter so you can stay in the loop about our events and other events around town too.
Connect with People with Similar Interests
Meetup is a great tool to find “your people”, people with similar interests to you. There a ton of groups for all kinds of interests from coding to hiking and everything in between. And Meetup is in cities around the world so you can quickly connect to other groups before and after you move to a new city.
Find Volunteer Opportunities
One of the best ways to connect and engage in a new community is to give back. It not only connects you to other great people, but also gives you a sense of purpose. Louisville is one of the nation’s most compassionate cities filled with a ton of great non-profits. You can find a sign-up for a local non-profits on our page at com/volunteer or Metro United Way’s volunteer page.
Sign up for Professional Organizations
Another thing Louisville doesn’t lack is great professional organizations including the Young Professional Association of Louisville (YPAL), Greater Louisville International Professionals (GLIP) and many local chapters for national networking organizations like the National Association of Women MBAs and National Association of Hispanic MBAs. More great organizations are listed at new2lou.com/connect.
Don’t Stress
And last but certainly not least, don’t stress. Moving to a new city can be stressful, but you’ve got this. Don’t hesitate to ask your employer, friends, friends of friends or contact us. We’re here to help (wink).
