Depending upon the circumstances, you may be in the position where you have very little time to move.   You may find yourself moving out and still not have a place to move into at your new location.  Under those conditions, you will have to sort out temporary living arrangements.  Preferably, you will want to find your temporary quarters prior to your move so that you do not have to relocate twice.  However, sometimes it does not work out that way and you will have to put your energy towards finding your new place once you get there.  Further, you will have to consider storing your items.  Therefore, you definitely want to have a conversation with the moving professionals you hire to ensure they can meet your storage requirements.

Whether you ultimately plan to rent or purchase, you definitely want to evaluate your living arrangements and identify your needs, wants and desires.  When you are trying to find a place under time constraints, you may find yourself having to compromise on some things.  Be prepared for it.  If you are planning on purchasing your new place, you are in a good position, given the economy.  However, if you are planning to rent, you may find yourself in a competitive environment.  It all depends on your new location.  Make the time to do the research so you know what to expect.  There are great tools available online to assess the cost of living in your new location, which will give you a barometer of the economic climate and allow you to budget accordingly.  Also, there are many great sites that will give you the listings of properties for rent or purchase in your new area to help you do the research you need to find just the right place for you.