Monday March 9, 2009

The why about the where.

Many factors influence quality of life. Where one lives is one of the most important decisions to be made when searching for a home. Easy access to the things you do most often makes life simpler and less stressful. Think in terms of work, play, education, transport and other conveniences.

Research into the area is just as important as understanding the quality of home you purchase. Is there a high percentage of rentals on the street? How well do you know the neighbourhood youre looking in? If you want to go to a restaurant, can you easily walk?  What about your childrens after schools activities, libraries and parks? Proximity to mass transit, food markets, pharmacies and other similar commonly used amenities enhances the enjoyment of a neighbourhood.

One of the best ways to find out about neighbourhoods is the most obvious:  ask a friend who lives there.  They can give you the inside information about where to go particularly If they have similar interests. Otherwise you can use websites such as googlemaps or walkscore.com.

Another way is to use a realtor who knows the neighbourhood and people who live, work and play in the area you are considering the purchase.  However you do your research, you will be happier with the end result if you dont have to get in your car to do everything. Later, if you decide to resell, the proximity factor will improve the resale value.