Have you ever wished that you could simply "plug in" the city of your dreams and get the hard facts on what it's really like to live there? Anticipation is dramatically different than reality, but unfortunately, a lot of dreamers don't find that out until they've invested their savings in a new home in the city of their dreams, which sometimes turns out to be little more than a fantasy. It's a time-consuming and inefficient process to call up Realtors in every area that peaks your interest, in order to find out such information as the cost of a single-family home, sales tax rate, how many days of precipitation each year, air quality and average commute time, to name but a few quality of life factors.

But a Web site called Virtual Relocation allows consumers to do just that. It's like having an online atlas that not only enables you to explore various regions, but gives you the facts about crime, education, taxes and more, as well. Nothing drives the point home more than a city-to-city comparison. Let's say, for instance, that you're contemplating an early retirement in Carmel, California. That would require moving from your present home in Dallas. Carmel is beautiful; there's no debate about that. But check out the difference in cost of living data between these two cities. The higher the figure, the higher the cost of living; 100 is the nationwide average. Dallas ranks 69 on the scale, and Carmel ranks a staggering 164. The average cost of a 2,000-square foot home in Dallas, according to Virtual Relocation data, is $69,000; in Carmel, the same house would cost you $195,000. As this example proves, a side-by-side comparison can burst one's bubble rather quickly.

To find a more realistic option for yourself, you may search Virtual Relocation by state or city. Within each city you select, you'll be provided links to a wide variety of local resources, such as keywords: arts and entertainment, career resources, insurance, real estate (where you'll find a list of local agents), parenting resources, education, legal resources, medical resources, maps, newcomer information, a property search, rentals, a city guide and more.

Virtual Relocation has a "Relocation" link that includes such useful data as demographics, moving resources, mortgage rates, rental information, senior living information, taxes by states, universities by state, vacation property listings and weather forecasts.

You may also take advantage of Virtual Relocation's National Relocation Directory, where you'll find listings of firms and agents by state; a listing of exclusive buyers' agents; property and rental searches; employment information; a listing of architects, home builders and home improvement experts; government agencies; child care resources and pediatricians; corporate and military relocation resources; and much more.

A "Features" section includes Internet banking resources, luxury home listings, an online newsletter, and a wealth of relocation tools. A section called "Ask Arlene" is particularly noteworthy. Relocation Therapist Arlene Alpert passes along sage advice for handling the emotions and stresses involved in the relocation process. Thankfully, if you spend any amount of time browsing on Virtual Relocation, the disappointment of moving to a town that doesn't live up to your expectations won't be a stress you'll have to face.

Published: March 16, 1999

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Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Courtney Ronan only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.