From Oregon to Sioux Falls: How I Relocated & Why I Now Help Others Do the Same

I never thought I’d leave Oregon. It was where I grew up, where my family lived, and all I had ever known. But during the pandemic, things shifted dramatically. Oregon no longer felt like home, and I wasn’t willing to wait around to see how it played out.

So, I began searching for a new place to call home. Unlike many who relocated during “COVID times,” I knew right away that Texas, Arizona, and Florida weren’t for me. I wanted all four seasons. We briefly considered Eastern Oregon, but housing affordability and the sameness of the environment made that less appealing. Idaho was beautiful but not quite what I was looking for, Wyoming and Montana were gorgeous, yet South Dakota kept checking every box. Most importantly, the schools were open, which mattered for my daughter.

How Sioux Falls Landed on Our Radar

One night, I was Googling "river towns", “towns like Bend, Oregon” because we’ve always loved Bend. Sioux Falls showed up a couple of times. The Big Sioux River flows through town much like the Deschutes runs through Bend. That caught my attention. If I was leaving the Ocean behind, I needed some water. 

From there, I dove into deep research. One of the most useful tools I found was the South Dakota Wage Calculator, which let me compare affordability across different areas.

How We Tested Life in Sioux Falls

We didn’t just pack up and move. Since we didn’t know anyone in South Dakota, we treated relocation like a series of trial runs: weekend trips, road trips, and eventually a month-long stay.

October 2020 – Our First Trip (Weekend Test):
My husband and I flew out, rented a car, and stayed at an Airbnb on North Prairie Avenue.
👉 Tip: If you’re buying, choose an Airbnb instead of a hotel. It helps you experience grocery shopping, commutes, and daily routines like a local.

We drove everywhere: Hartford, Tea, Brandon, Canton, Dell Rapids. We wanted to get a feel for different communities. By the time we left, I knew Sioux Falls could be home, but I also had questions about schools, healthcare, weather, and lifestyle.

February 2021 – Second Trip (Winter Test):
Everyone told us, “Visit in the freezing cold and you’ll change your mind.” So we did. Ironically, it was in the 30s and even hit the 50s when we left. No blizzards, but we did see Sioux Falls in winter mode. This time our daughter came along, and she got her own first impressions.

May 2021 – Third Trip (Month-Long Stay):
By then, I was ready to fully test it. We rented an Airbnb for a month on the southeast side, packed up our two dogs, and drove out. I was working remotely, and my daughter was in online school, so it gave us a real glimpse of everyday life here. That month sealed it. I didn’t want to leave.

Buying Our Home

The first step was getting pre-approved. I asked everyone I met, from baristas to grocery clerks, about lenders. The same name kept coming up: Plains Commerce Bank. That kind of community feedback gave me confidence.

We were looking for a manageable property just outside of town. I found a renovated two-acre home listed for sale by owner on Zillow. Realtors joke about Zillow, but yes, we use it too. My daughter and I went to the open house, I FaceTimed my husband, and we decided to make an offer.

Since I was already licensed in Oregon, I navigated the process myself: coordinating directly with the seller, arranging title and escrow, and making sure nothing was missed. But truthfully, I wish I’d had someone local to lean on.

Once financing and paperwork were squared away, we packed up in Oregon. With no U-Hauls available and moving companies booked or overpriced, we bought a car hauler off Craigslist. On July 4th, 2021, we pulled into our new driveway. Fireworks lit up the sky, a perfect symbol of independence and the start of our new chapter. Exhausted but at peace, we knew this was home.

Why I Help Others Do the Same

That journey gave me empathy I never had before. I know the stress, the unknowns, and the excitement of relocation because I’ve lived it.

My timeline was unique because of remote work and online school, but even if you don’t have that flexibility, there are ways to test life here. And if you can’t, that’s where I come in to bridge the gaps.

Relocation is so much more than packing boxes. It’s switching car titles, getting new driver’s licenses, finding doctors, dentists, even a hair stylist. Honestly, for the first two years, we still flew back to Oregon for visting family, but also for our family dentist and my hairstylist. 

My goal is to make your move easier by helping you feel supported, informed, and connected. Not just during the home search, but through every step of the relocation process.

If you’re considering a move to Sioux Falls, I’d love to be your guide. I know firsthand what it’s like to start over, and I’m here to help you feel at home.

Hi, I’m Aleah! 👋  A Sioux Falls Realtor who relocated from Oregon and now helps others make their move with confidence. This blog is a collection of my own thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Everything here is written by me, so please excuse the occasional typo or run-on sentence. My goal is to keep things real, relatable, and helpful for anyone considering a move to Sioux Falls or beyond.