With less competitive pressure in today’s property market, buyers now have a little more time to tour the local neighborhood to decide whether it is an area or even a street where they’d like to live.
It’s a critical part of the buying experience. Real estate’s most famous cliché is “location, location, location”, and it stays in our minds for a good reason.
Location is fundamental to the value of a home and your enjoyment of it.
We all know what we love about specific neighborhoods, but how many of us stop to analyze those emotions and apply them when we’re buying a property?
This checklist should help you think about facets of a local area to consider before committing to your next dream home.
List it
Making lists really helps your thinking. Ask yourself what you like about your current neighborhood and what it lacks. Cross-reference that with a similar list for your target area, and you’ll get a clear picture of whether your new location makes the cut.
Safety
Are you going to feel safe in and around your home? Whether any fears are justified or not, they’re legitimately your fears. Don’t move somewhere that will play on your nerves.
Convenience
Being able to walk to shops or the neighborhood school is essential to folks who love being at the centre of a community. Will you face the prospect of having to jump in the car every time you run out of milk? And how much do you care about that?
Amenities
Access to services such as transport is another critical element for many households. If you have kids, you want to know they can get home quickly and safely from school without walking several blocks on those dark winter afternoons.
Commute
The daily grind of getting to and from work must be a factor in your buying decision. Purchasing a beautiful home far from the office will wear down many people, no matter how much they’re prepared to make the sacrifice. And who hasn’t winced at the price of gas recently?
Relationships
The distance you put between yourself and family or close friends can be an important factor in your decision making. It’s hard when your spouse complains they don’t have any new friends and they miss everyone.
Jungle
How do you feel about living in a suburban sprawl or tolerating the inevitable hustle and bustle of a concrete jungle? Where are the nearest parks or green spaces to your new home? Maybe this doesn’t matter to you? Most people need to escape, even if it’s only to enjoy a picnic in the neighborhood park.