This is just a personal character related question.
How does a gnome go about finding a place to live, when all she wants is a traditional gnomish home and workshop that exists under and within the roots of a tree?
You guessed it, gnomes are burrowers not town-living slickers like most races. A gnome only needs four things when wanting to find a home. A large tree with good root system, a shovel, a pick and an wood axe. Woolah! All the fixings to make themselves a home.