Top trend: Learning to shift gears

With so many people in South Africa now moving from the city to the country - and vice versa - we thought it would be a good time to highlight the changes that we see many of our home sellers and buyers having to make in order to adapt to a new environment and craft a new lifestyle for themselves.

These need to be carefully considered before you make a big move and find yourself living in a property you may really love but a location that doesn't suit you or is not what you expected.

When moving from the city to the country, for example, it often takes time and patience for people to adjust to a much slower pace of life and a more relaxed way of doing things. They need to plan for anything involving paperwork to take longer to accomplish.  

Living in a country or coastal town might also mean that you need to travel further to access amenities such as grocery stores, medical facilities, restaurants and entertainment venues. And ironically, this may mean more driving than you did in the city, because public transport will probably not be as readily available or as frequent as you are used to.

In addition, if you are used to a vibrant social life in the city, you should be prepared to make an extra effort to connect with people and make new friends if you move to a smaller town where the community is more spread out or most people already know one another.

One big advantage of living in the country, though, is that you will definitely have more opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, birding, biking, riding, surfing, kiting, diving and fishing, all of which can give you a chance to meet new people and enjoy your new environment.

Meanwhile, those moving from the country to the city for work, for example, will probably find that the biggest adjustment they have to make is getting used to the constant background noise - of traffic, sirens, neighbours and just people in general. This can negatively affect sleep patterns and make people irritable.

Housing in the city may also be smaller and more expensive than in the country, so you may need to downsize to a smaller home or adjust your expectations as regards your living or garden space. The cost of living in the city is often also higher than in the country, so you may need to adjust your budget accordingly.

If you're used to living in a natural setting, you may also need to go out of your way to find green spaces in the city where you can enjoy fresh air and outdoor activities, or be prepared to cultivate new "indoor" interests such as theatre, gym, a painting class or a book club, which could also help you make new friends. 

One big advantage of moving to the city - depending on where you live - is that you may be able to keep your transport bills down by relying more on public transport and driving much less.