Moving to a new city can be intimidating, especially when you've never visited the city before your move and don't know any locals. This was me in 2008. I moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana for my career after living in Ohio all my life. Not knowing anyone in the city, I ventured into resources offered to the public to find my way around initially. Here are some of my personal tips:

  • For rental housing information check out the Apartment Association of Fort Wayne. This group exists to protect renters and landlords alike, and provides an extremely comprehensive apartment guide and search function on their website. In addition, you can call the association with any questions you may have about housing.
  • For purchasing a home, finding a realtor is more of a personal search. Utilize search engines to research realtors in the Fort Wayne area. Or contact the Upstate Alliance of Realtors, serving thousands of realtors across the region, for insight on finding the perfect match for your needs.
  • For basic information on Northeast Indiana, a great resource is the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. They have lots of great tools, including information about employers in the region. 
  • Local media outlets are great for educating a new resident. Fort Wayne is home to two daily newspapers, The Journal Gazette and The News-Sentinel. Both newspapers post stories on their websites and are available locally for purchase and subscription. Additionally, local broadcast news is available on a number of channels with local affiliates for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS. For local radio the options are endless, and Fort Wayne has a NPR affiliate as well.
  • Lastly, check out the great resources provided by Visit Fort Wayne -- the number one resource providing information and insight on the community events and activities to locals and visitors alike. Visit Fort Wayne offers relocation info, including a community directory, medical facility guide and more. And be sure to follow the Visit Fort Wayne social media accounts for all your social media needs too.

Don't be intimidated by new surroundings. In a short time you will find your favorite places to eat, local events to enjoy and a place to call home. 

*This post was originally published October 2012 and has been updated and reformatted.