We hate commuting. Recent survey by Princeton scientists reports that we rank commuting as our least favorite activity – disliked even more than house chores. However, we frequently forget and underestimate how much commuting affects our well-being.

Robert H. Frank, economics professor at Cornell University writes: “If we use an increase in our incomes…simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not tend to end up being any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods – such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job – then the evidence paints a very different picture.”

Another recent scientific study from Europe reports: “We found that people with longer commuting time report systematically lower subjective well-being. If your trip is an hour each way, you’d have to make forty per cent more in salary to be as ’satisfied’ with life as a noncommuter is…”

Daniel Gilbert, author of “Stumbling on Happiness” and a psychology professor at Harvard University reminds us: “You can’t adapt to commuting, because it’s entirely unpredictable. Driving in traffic is a different kind of hell every day.”

Still, most of us spend more than an hour a day in traffic. We drive to work, we drive to daycare, schools, after school activities, gyms, supermarkets and libraries. For most of the families with kids, the daily commute pattern is a complex web of who-when-where. Optimal Home Location tool can help by suggesting how to minimize commute of each family. It takes into account a specific commute pattern, and returns geographical area that would minimize the combined family commute. Reducing one’s commute by just 10 miles per day may mean 100 more enjoyable hours with your family, $500 savings per year and a little step toward greener planet.

Henry Fong, a Feng Shui Consultant based in Malasia offers the following alternative advice on finding your Optimal Home Location:

“The ancient Chinese believe that the presence of Sheng Qi is crucial to our well being. Sheng Qi, or “living qi” is a type of invisible life force. Wherever we see plants and animals growing and flourishing, we know that it is present. Be on the lookout for good earthy soil and exuberant plant growth. On the contrary, avoid rocky terrains or one where even grass strains to grow!

Since “qi” can be blown away, you should not buy a house that it located at the top of a hill. ‘Qi’ cannot accumulate when houses are exposed to strong winds You should also avoid one that it located in a deep land locked valley as there is the danger of “qi” stagnating. Equally undesirable is the one that is located on the steep slopes. In addition to the danger of landslides, “qi”can’t amass on sharp slopes.

Look for one on gentle slopes that contain a hill or ground higher ground at the backside. It is desirable for the ground in the front of the dwelling to be lower. It would be great if it faces a clean river or lake. If not an open locale like a broad street or sports ground or even a wide road supposed to be enough.

Finally, the home is an abode to relax in and it is good to have it situated in a peaceful location. Do not buy a house that fronts a busy road or is very near a busy and noisy highway!“

Hank Green from EcoGeek have tried the tool and posted this interesting review:

http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2349/75/

Optimal Home Location tool have been featured in October 2008 issue of Boston Magazine.

Jason Feifer is writing:

“Not too long ago, I lived in Concord but worked in Gardner, had friends in Norwood and a girlfriend who commuted regularly to New Hampshire.  The arrangement stretched me thin. The new site – www.OptimalHomeLocation.com – would have helped a great deal.  Just type in where you work, play, live, and shop, and where your friends do the same, and it will tell you exactly where you should take up residence, if only as a way to make the road open – and its traffic – less of a hassle in your daily life.”

We would like to announce our recent partnership with Zillow Inc. OptimalHomeLocation is making real time queries to Zillow’s census database to provide you with the area demographics data.   As you move house icon on our map, you can see Property Tax, Median Home Values and percentage of Homes with Kids for any town or region on the map.  When you use Create a Report button, demographics data for the current home icon location as well as all the locations entered in the Compare Commutes Tab are being requested from Zillow and printed in the comparison table at the bottom part of your report.

Recognizing the originality of our real estate approach, Zillow Inc. has listed OptimalHomeLocation in the Resources For Buyers section of their site.

We have recently implemented a new feature which some of you have asked for – personalized customer reports. Reports are summaries of all the user interaction with the www.OptimalHomeLocation.com application. They contain a personalized optimal home location for each user, a list of points of interest in the neighborhood, comparison of commutes and demographic data for a number of alternative considered locations. Reports can be generated by pressing the button at the bottom of the main www.OptimalHomeLocation.com page. Now every user can print the report and discuss the results with the family and friends.

Check out this rather popular video clip below, titled: “I am not a lead”. It has been viewed over 10,000 times.
I believe this is exactly what OptimalHomeLocation offers: a tool to help optimize and simplify your life. We do not accumulate and store any information, we do not sell you to anyone. We help you figure out what is best for you and your family. Minimal commute, gas savings, proximity to shopping malls, walking distance to a church or a synagogue, school ratings. It is all about YOU!

Click on the link below to view:

Video:
(Boston Globe) Sick of Capes and Colonials? We found where New England is hiding its mid-century modern houses. By Ann Silvio and D.C. Denison
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185086463/bclid1457734222/bctid1786938595

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