Locating the right neighbourhood is a crucial step to finding the perfect home
There are nearly limitless options for buying a new house. Many people may focus on a house with plenty of room or one that doesn’t need many renovations. However, selecting the right neighbourhood to live in is also important. If you’re uncertain, begin with the neighbourhoods that are attractive to you, then work your way through your desired list of amenities.
Cruising the neighbourhoods you have in mind is the first thing you should do. You should see if there are bus stops nearby for the kids to use to go to school or if the schools are in walking distance and when they graduate, are there other schools for junior high, high school, and college?. If you enjoy social activities with friends, you may want to be close to restaurants and bars.
What’s the general vibe of the neighbourhood? Are the neighbours friendly and look out for each other, or does everyone keep to themselves? Do the neighbours have tidy lawns or are their weeds three feet high and garbage and debris all over the road. Feeling right about where you live and feeling secure in your neighbourhood is important.
The next step to selecting the right neighbourhood is to talk to people. Ask your parents, friends, and coworkers if they can recommend their favourite neighbourhoods and shine some light on ones you have in mind. What do they like? What don’t they like? Perhaps they know of someone who is going to be selling their house soon. They may be able to introduce you and give you a real estate lead before a great house even gets on the market.
Amenities and leisure
Does your desired neighbourhood have a lot of festivals and events? Some people love these activities, while others may wish to lead a happy and quiet life. Search online to see what’s happening in the area also use Google maps and look from above. If it’s strictly residential, rather than a mix of business and residential, it’s likely going to be quieter, but amenities may be further away.
Many people like freedom. If you want somewhere you and your friends can hang out in summer, and you can turn on the BBQ and spark up the fire pit to have a gathering, you need to be aware that many areas or types of homes like condos do not allow some types of activities even if it is on your property. You should always check with the local bylaws and ask your Realtor to help.
If you are building a home, there may be requirements on when you need to pave your driveway or if you are allowed to erect a fence or even what types of fences you are allowed to erect. Also, make sure you understand some homes are attached to the local sewer system, and some have septic tanks and those tanks have additional rules to abide by as well.
If you have kids or you enjoy playing walking or sports, find out what parks and recreational facilities are nearby. What exactly is allowed in the park? Are dogs allowed? Is there an enclosed dog park? Swimming pool? Can anyone use the tennis court or do you have to book in advance?
You may even wish to base your new home purchase on what the neighbourhood looks like. Are there plenty of mature trees and vegetation? Do flowers bloom in the spring or do vegetable gardens do well in the area? People with allergies may want to be away from certain trees and shrubbery nearby.
Property values
Ask your Real Estate Agent (Realtor) to help you figure out if the property values are rising, staying the same or declining in the area over the last 10 years. This may or may not be an issue if you are planning to stay long-term, but for shorter terms, you may want to make sure you won’t lose money when selling your home. Sometimes neighbourhoods are up and coming and getting in ahead of the curve will be very beneficial in the future.
Neighbourhoods like South Windsor homes are selling in as little as a few days for 20 – 60 thousand dollars over asking price. These sought-after neighbourhoods are very desirable and obtaining homes located there is sometimes harder because of the multiple bids placed on the home. You need to find an agent with experience and expertise who can work in your favor to help you be the winning bid.
It can take a little bit of research to choose the right neighbourhood, but once you set your sights on your big goal, it will help your Real Estate Agent (Realtor) narrow down the options for you. Good Luck!
