There is an emotional connection that you build with your first apartment when living abroad. It is the place where you create a lot of memories, host gatherings, connect with new friends, and share the table with your expat community. While I know it is time for us to search for our next home – since we have outgrown our small 50-square-meter apartment (now with a child) – it is also a bittersweet feeling to move out of the first place I have called my “home away from home”.

At the same time, it is exciting to start the search for the next house or apartment! It has me reflecting on many things relating to life abroad. Like, how much time do I want to stay living in Germany, what other neighborhoods I see myself raising children in, and what is important for our next home. Changing apartments for me is more than just about selecting the next nice place to live in – it is also about reimagining my future (potentially still abroad) and dreaming about what the next few years could look like.

However, moving is also not easy, especially with children. Scheduling apartment visits, finding the time to search online, contacting apartment leads in the hopes that you will be the 1 out of 200 people they choose. Moving between apartments in large cities in Germany, such as Frankfurt, is also competitive and the “good places” go so fast!

As we are well into the process of finding our next home for our family, here are my biggest learnings around switching apartments with children based on our experience so far:

• We secured our Kita spot first, then chose which areas to move to: After having our daughter, my husband and I knew we did not need to switch apartments that first year and that we could get by in our small two-room apartment (1 bedroom, 1 living room). Given that it is hard to get a spot at a Kita (nursery school) in Frankfurt, it was most important for us to secure a school for our daughter first and then make a list of potential neighborhoods in surrounding areas where we could move to. We did consider Kitas in areas where we knew could be interesting for us to move to but also, remained flexible with applying all throughout Frankfurt to increase our chances of getting a spot.
• Determine what is important for you (and your family) in your next place: Before starting the apartment search, my husband and I had countless conversations around the topic of moving and what was important for us for our next home, We had our list of non-negotiables (minimum 2-3 bedrooms, quiet area, safe, clean, lots of greenery and parks, family-friendly, well connected to public transit etc). Having a mental (or in my case, written down) list of things that are important for us allows us to navigate the apartment hunt easier and be clear about what we want as a family.
• Discuss “THE” question: Switching apartments in Frankfurt (or any other large German city) is not easy and requires a lot of paperwork and logistics. When deciding when to move apartments, we also discussed “THE” question: How long do we want to stay in Germany? While this may often feel like the never-ending question for international couples living abroad, my husband and I always revisit this when we consider making any big life changes or decisions. At some point, we want to try living in the U.S. again so when considering switching apartments in Germany, this question is always considered.
• Consider school options in the area: Is the Kita nearby? What options for Grundschule (Primary School) are there? This is important to consider, especially when moving with children so that you understand what the options are for schooling in the area. In Germany, Grundschule is typically assigned based on the area you live in, so it is important to know what school options are around.

Searching for your next home is not an easy task and requires a lot of research, patience, and exploring your options. The search becomes more complicated when you are making the move with children or preparing to start a family. While the search can feel like a daunting task, I am also excited about what the future holds for my family and I in Germany.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, I hope these tips help alleviate some of the stress that comes with moving and provides guidance during your search. Another blog post to come in the future where I share my biggest learnings after we have made our next move!

expat families abroadexpats in Germanymovingabroadparenting abroad