March 7, 2011 - Families often put a high priority on employment opportunities and amenities when making long distance moving plans, and for that reason, homes in areas with a large selection of both can be some of the most expensive in the country.

Experts with NeighborhoodScout.com told Businessweek that properties which are near major job centers or those that offer a wealth of lifestyle options are often the ones that are most expensive in a neighborhood. For example, the two most expensive zip codes in the country - Beverly Hills and Manhattan - also represent some of the country's major employment hubs. Despite being populated by entirely different properties - Beverly Hills single-family homes are normally sprawling while Manhattan is flush with smaller luxury apartments - both areas are equally appealing to buyers packing their moving boxes.

"People will put up a lot to make a lot of money and support their families," Andrew Schiller, founder and chief executive of NeighborhoodScout, told the source.

At the same time, properties in areas with unique views of the water, mountains or valleys or with a bevy of recreational amenities can also be priced high, though the report cautioned these homes can lose value quicker if amenities are their only appeal.

In light of today's rocky job market, it's no wonder consumers planning on moving put a high value on employment. The Department of Labor reported the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 percent in February as the country added 192,000 new jobs.
 

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