Move to Auburn: Would You Choose a Better Location or More House?

Move to Auburn and here’s a question that can make a home search interesting very quickly:

Would you rather have a smaller home in the location you really want—or a larger home farther away?

Give me the smaller house near the places I use every day?

Or…

Give me the bedrooms, the bigger lot and the extra living space. I’ll drive.

Which buyer are you?

There isn’t one correct answer.

I’ve lived in the Auburn–Opelika area since 1988 and have worked in real estate here for more than 20 years. One thing I’ve learned is that buyers don’t all experience distance, space or convenience the same way.

For one buyer, another 10 minutes in the car is nothing.

For another, it’s a compromise they’ll notice twice a day, five days a week.

And that is really what this decision is about:

Which compromise are you most comfortable living with?

Location Is Something You Can’t Renovate

You’ve probably heard some version of this before:

You can change the house.

You can’t change the location.

There’s a reason people keep saying it.

Paint can change.

Flooring can change.

A dated bathroom can be renovated.

A kitchen can be updated.

You may be able to change how a room functions.

But you cannot pick up your house and move it five miles closer to work.

That doesn’t mean location automatically wins.

A house still needs to work for you.

But location deserves serious weight because it’s one of the few things about a property that is truly permanent.

What Does Your Preferred Location Give You?

Maybe being in your preferred Auburn location means you’re closer to work.

Perhaps you’re relocating for Auburn University and want a convenient commute.

Maybe you love being close to downtown Auburn.

Maybe your favorite restaurants, shopping and activities are nearby.

Or maybe it’s simply the part of Auburn where you most enjoy spending your time.

Convenience is easy to underestimate when you’re standing inside a larger house thinking:

Look at all this space!

But once you live there, your routine begins.

And suddenly the question becomes:

How often am I making this drive?

What Could You Gain by Moving Farther Away?

Depending on current inventory and market conditions, expanding your search may introduce different housing choices.

You might find properties with:

• Another bedroom
• Additional living space
• A dedicated office
• More storage
• A larger lot
• More parking
• A different home style
• Different neighborhood settings

For some buyers, those features are absolutely worth a longer drive.

If you work from home and spend most of your day in your house, extra living space may matter tremendously.

If you love being outside, additional yard space may matter more than shaving minutes off your commute.

If you need a dedicated office, guest room or hobby space, the smaller home may simply not function well enough.

More space isn’t automatically unnecessary space.

Sometimes it is exactly what a buyer needs.

But More House Means More House to Maintain

Here’s the less exciting side of the equation.

You have to maintain what you buy.

More square footage may mean more:

• Cleaning
• Furnishing
• Flooring
• Interior maintenance
• Exterior maintenance
• Heating and cooling
• General upkeep

A larger lot may mean more outdoor maintenance too.

Some buyers don’t mind that at all.

Others eventually realize they bought rooms they rarely use and a yard they don’t particularly enjoy maintaining.

So don’t ask only:

“How much house can I get?”

Ask:

“How much house do I actually want to live in and maintain?”

The Commute Is Part of the House

I think buyers sometimes mentally separate the commute from the property.

The house is one decision.

The drive is another.

But once you live there, they’re connected.

If choosing the larger house adds 10 minutes each way to a commute you make five days a week, that’s part of your experience of living in that home.

Maybe you don’t mind.

Maybe you listen to music or podcasts and couldn’t care less.

Great.

But if you already hate spending time in the car, don’t dismiss the commute because you love the bonus room.

Be realistic about yourself.

Try My Ordinary-Tuesday Test

Imagine an ordinary Tuesday.

No Auburn football game.

No special event.

No holiday.

Tuesday.

You get up.

Drive to work.

Come home.

Run an errand.

Maybe go out for dinner.

How does the location feel?

Now imagine living in the smaller house.

Do you actually feel cramped?

Or did you simply like the idea of having another bedroom?

Would you use the extra room every day?

Every week?

Twice a year?

Now imagine the larger home farther away.

Would you use and enjoy that space enough to make the additional driving worthwhile?

That’s a more useful comparison than square footage alone.

Auburn University Can Be a Major Part of the Decision

If you’re relocating for Auburn University, your specific destination matters.

Some buyers want to be extremely close.

Others don’t mind driving farther.

Some want to walk.

Others have absolutely no interest in walking to work.

That’s why “close to Auburn University” isn’t a universal requirement.

Your job, routine and preferences determine how important proximity should be to your home search.

Downtown Auburn May Matter Too

Maybe your preferred location isn’t about your commute.

Maybe it’s about lifestyle.

You want to be closer to downtown Auburn.

You enjoy the restaurants and activity.

You like being near Toomer’s Corner.

You want convenient access to things happening around Auburn University.

That’s a legitimate priority.

Someone else may look at the exact same location and say:

I’d rather have more house.

Also legitimate.

And Then There’s Football

Location can feel very different on an Auburn home-game Saturday.

If you love Auburn football and want convenient access to Jordan-Hare Stadium, tailgating, Tiger Walk and downtown activity, proximity may matter more to you.

If you don’t care whether you can walk to game-day activities, perhaps it matters less.

I’ve lived here through decades of Auburn football seasons.

An ordinary weekday and football Saturday are very different Auburn experiences.

If you’re new to the area, think about both when you’re evaluating location.

Don’t Forget Opelika

If you’re moving to the Auburn area, consider whether Opelika belongs in your search too.

Some buyers start out saying:

“Auburn only.”

Then they see a property in Opelika that gives them something they weren’t finding in the Auburn properties they had considered.

Maybe it’s the house.

Maybe it’s the lot.

Maybe it’s the location relative to the rest of their routine.

Other buyers remain firmly committed to Auburn.

That’s fine too.

The point is to understand your options before deciding.

Location vs. More Space

Here’s how I’d frame the decision:

Question	Smaller / Preferred Location	Larger / Farther Away
Commute	May be more convenient	May require more driving
Square footage	Less space	More space
Lot	May be smaller	May offer more outdoor space
Maintenance	Potentially less	Potentially more
Daily destinations	May be closer	May require additional driving
Extra rooms	May require flexible use	May offer dedicated spaces
Location	Preferred area	Compromise on proximity

Again, neither side automatically wins.

You’re deciding which benefits matter most to you.

A Realistic Buyer Scenario

Imagine a buyer relocating to Auburn.

They have a fixed budget.

House A is smaller but close to the places they expect to use almost every day.

House B is farther away but gives them another bedroom, more square footage and a larger lot.

At first, House B feels like the obvious deal.

More house for the money.

But then they start thinking about how they’ll use it.

The extra bedroom will probably sit empty.

They don’t particularly want a large yard.

And they’ll make the longer drive almost every day.

For that buyer, House A may actually provide more value in daily life.

Now change the buyer.

The second buyer works partly from home.

They need an office.

They love gardening.

They don’t mind driving.

Suddenly House B makes much more sense.

Same two houses. Completely different answer.

Questions I’d Ask Before You Decide

How often will you make the longer drive?

Daily matters more than occasionally.

Do you truly need the additional rooms?

Think about how you’ll actually use them.

How much yard do you want to maintain?

Don’t buy outdoor space solely because it looks impressive.

How much does your preferred location affect your lifestyle?

Think beyond work.

Could a smaller home with a better layout work just as well?

Square footage doesn’t tell the entire story.

Would you regret giving up the location?

Imagine yourself a year after closing.

Would you regret giving up the space?

Ask the same question in reverse.

Quick Q&A

Is location more important than house size?

It depends on the buyer. Location is permanent, but your home still needs enough functional space to meet your needs.

Does moving farther from Auburn give me more house for my money?

It may introduce different housing options, but current inventory, neighborhood, property condition, lot and other factors all affect pricing. Compare actual available properties rather than assuming distance guarantees more house.

Should I buy the biggest home I can afford?

Not necessarily. Consider how much space you’ll use, maintain and comfortably afford as part of your overall housing costs.

Should I consider Opelika when moving to Auburn?

It may be worthwhile. Your commute, budget, preferred property type and daily routine can help determine whether Auburn, Opelika or both belong in your search.

Does square footage tell me how spacious a home will feel?

Not completely. Layout, storage and room configuration can make homes with similar square footage function very differently.

How important should commute time be?

That depends on how often you make the trip and how you feel about driving. A commute that doesn’t bother one buyer may be a major issue for another.

Can I change most things about a house later?

Many cosmetic features can be changed, although cost and feasibility vary. Location is one feature you cannot change after buying.

Which Would You Choose?

I’m curious.

Smaller house in the location you really want?

Or…

More house farther away?

Would you trade a bedroom for a shorter commute?

Would you happily drive another 10 or 15 minutes for more land?

Would you rather have less maintenance and be closer to everything?

There isn’t one correct answer.

But there is probably an answer that’s better for your everyday life.

And that’s the one we need to find.

Planning to Move to Auburn or Opelika?

Laura Sellers is an Auburn University alumna who has lived in the Auburn–Opelika area since 1988 and has been a REALTOR® for over 20 years. She is an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate, the Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers.

If you’re planning to move to Auburn or Opelika, I’d love to help you compare location, square footage, commute, lot size and the other factors that will actually affect your daily life.

Call or text Laura Sellers: 334-332-7263

AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com

Homes, y’all!