Your home is not just a property, it reflects what you cherish and hold dear and it is the place where you should feel most comfortable. Usually it is also part of a larger neighbourhood and community. In this post we tackle the factors that go into choosing a good neighbourhood.

When you buy a property you aren’t just getting a house but is buying into a particular locale with features you consider valuable or even vital. Whether it is a good location that is near to work or your children’s school and possessing activities you enjoy, like shopping, sports, fine dining, nightlife; or for its aesthetic qualities; good beaches, nature and scenery, panoramic views, tranquillity or green spaces.

Create Lists

What you will need is a checklist of everything that is important to you and your family. This list should have on all the things you value about where you currently live as well as those things important to you about potential neighbourhoods you are considering.

Look around at what makes your current community special or a place you called home. Decide if these are factors you want or that will be available in target neighbourhoods

After creating the list compare how closely each factor or neighbourhood is to your targets and to characteristics you found desirable.

Neighbourhood characteristics you should consider

Each person is different and has different likes and dislikes, needs and preferences. We each have our own perspectives on beauty, convenience and comfort. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ in home buying nor of what makes a ‘good neighbourhood’. A good neighbourhood for you would be one that suits your needs and unique lifestyle.  Some factors to consider are:

• Location, Location, Location!!!
  • Commute time to work and schools, and of course the traffic situation
  • Proximity and travel times to the school your child will be attending
  • Depending on your preferences proximity to amenities, recreational activities, shopping, retail areas, hospitals, entertainment spots, restaurants

• Type of community
  • Urban versus rural, would you prefer to live in a town house for example as compared to country? They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
  • What do you prefer a gated community, a large estate, condo or none of the above
  • Neighbourhood versus no neighbourhood

• People and culture – A community is above all the people who live there and the following are important.
  • Are your neighbours noisy or tend to throw large parties most weekends?
  • Are your neighbours sociable or hardly noticeable?
  • Does the community have many children among the same age as your own to play with?
  • Does the community have similar values to yours or at similar levels of income or social status?

• Other considerations
  • Is the neighbourhood safe and what is the potential for crime
  • Look at income and property values of the neighbourhood
  • Are they many vacant homes

Learning about the neighbourhood

Many of the characteristics above are important and help give you a good understanding of the neighbourhood. However, you shouldn’t rely on only a few sources to get information. To have a more adequate picture, here are a few additional suggestions:

• You might want to visit a neighbourhood in person as nothing gives you a better sense of what it’s like to move to new location than checking it out for yourself
• While visiting neighbourhoods you may have the opportunity to talk to residents
• If you have friends or co-workers that live in or near the area ask a question, you’ll be surprised to find who lives in that area or knows someone who does, with stories to share, they can provide good tips as well
• Neighbourhood reviews in newspapers and magazines
• Google it sometimes depending on the neighbourhood or area you may find some info on the internet

Final Words

Our final parting words on choosing a good neighbourhood and community. Above all do not just choose what friends, family or anybody else thinks is a good neighbourhood, you have to make that decision for yourself based on your own perspective.  However to ignore good advice and especially that from your agent would be to your detriment, always seek counsel from your agent as they have more experience in understanding what to look for in the neighbourhood.

When buying a home, it’s easy to get carried away and make snap decisions when you come upon your ideal property. But is it really your ideal home? It’s always best to be as thorough as possible before making that final decision. Here is a list of a few things you can consider.

Location
The location of your home is quite possibly the most important factor when it comes to choosing the right home. Consider the how close the property is to the city, ease of access to public transportation, your place of employment and the way traffic in the area would affect your trip to and from work or your children’s commute to school.

Financial Position
Most homeowners will need a mortgage when buying or building a home. A mortgage is a loan from the bank that will cover the cost of your home. When considering which bank to acquire a loan from, you will be informed of how much each bank is willing to lend you based on your credit score and income. Which gives you an idea of what you can afford when house hunting.

Size & Affordability
Having a spacious home with room to do as you please is great. But is that extra bathroom worth it? Is it in your best interests financially to buy a larger home? Before purchasing a home consider that the size of the property relates to its price, your loan and mortgage, utility bills and taxes.

Wear & Tear
Enquire about the age of the house and survey the property for damage like cracks and damp. If there are renovations to be made, consider the cost effectiveness of the repairing vs. choosing a different property. Seek professional advice about problems that could worsen in the future and get an estimate of how much you would spend on repairs.

Room For Improvement
Not every dream home is what you want it to be at first glance. But buyers who see the potential and have an interest in renovating and improving their property value should consider the space limitations and again, cost effectiveness of adding additional rooms to their property. Think about whether it would be better to buy a home with the space you need rather than building additional quarters.

Getting The Right Help
We’ve already talked about choosing an agent and what to look for, but the importance of having the counsel and assistance of a good real estate agent can’t be stressed enough when it comes to choosing your property. Buying your home is one of the biggest investments in any person’s life and mistakes made during the process can be detrimental.

Buying a house is one of the biggest financial transactions you will undertake in your lifetime and should not be taken lightly. When the going gets tough, it is important to remember the purpose of your search; to find the perfect house and turn it into the perfect home. Your home becomes your sanctuary where you relax after a stressful day, raise kids in comfort, and entertain family and friends. Deciding and agreeing on the right house can be a long and exhaustive process therefore start the looking as far in advance of your move as you possibly can. The search can be simplified by being methodological. Keep in mind there are as many houses as there are different tastes and needs for housing, therefore you will find your perfect home. Making the decision to buy or build is a personal and lifestyle choice but here is some information that will help you in your decision making process.

What kind of house do you want?

There are many options; remodels, pre-owned houses, custom built homes, and owner built homes. With a new built house you can choose a floor plan to suit your present and future needs. You can customize your house down to the carpet colour, window type and household gadgets; building a more efficient and effective house. Pre-existing homes offer more character than newer homes, but remember that a custom built house can have as much character and charm as the homeowner wants. Older homes tend to have more mature landscapes than new constructions, though to an avid gardener this offers a blank canvas to design a garden of your individual taste

How much money are you willing to shell out?

The cost of purchasing a pre-existing home is normally less by the square foot than building a new home. If you decide on building in a development don’t forget the hidden costs including association fees, and landscaping. On the flip side if you chose to buy a pre-existing home you may still have to update the house to suit your needs meaning more costs in the long run. If you have the construction wherewithal, easy access to supplies, and a source of labour for difficult parts of the home building process you can tailor your home for your needs and/or aesthetic tastes and potentially afford property in pricier neighbourhoods. Moreover, if you time the market accurately, not only might your property appreciate over time, but your home itself could serve as an attractive selling point years down the line when you are ready to move. On the other hand, buying an existing home allows you to move in as soon as possible and to take advantage of the architectural and aesthetic features that are already there. You can modify them at personal expense to get the custom fit house that you desire without spending weeks to months on construction. Moreover, you don’t need to have any specialized knowledge about construction to purchase an established house. New built and resale homes have advantages and disadvantages your task is to determine what you prefer and decide. Remember the correct answer to the build or buy is as unique as you are.