Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide a new mechanism for the spatial mismatch hypothesis. Spatial mismatch can here be the result of optimizing behavior on the part of the labor market participants. In particular, the unemployed can choose low amounts of search and long-term unemployment if they reside far away from jobs. They choose voluntary not to relocate close to jobs because the short-run gains (low land rent and large housing consumption) are big enough compared to the long-run gains of residing near jobs (higher probability of finding a job).