How To Choose the Right Neighbourhood?

If you’re buying a new home, the neighborhood you choose can be just as important as the choice of home. Keep in mind that you're not just buying a house, you're investing in a neighborhood. The two are synonymous so you need to be extra careful in choosing the area you'll be living in. So, how do you choose the right neighborhood?

Factors to Consider When Evaluating a Neighbourhood
When evaluating a neighbourhood, you should investigate local conditions. Depending on your own particular needs and tastes, some of the following factors may be more important considerations than others:

• Style of homes
• Quality of schools
• Property values
• Traffic
• Crime rate
• Future construction
• Proximity to: Schools, Employment, Hospitals, Shopping, Public transportation, Cultural Activities (museums, concerts, theatres, etc.), Highways, Airports, Beaches, Parks, Stadiums

Neighbourhood Search Strategies
If you’re a first-time-buyer with limited financial resources, it’s a wise purchasing strategy to buy a home that meets your primary needs in the best neighbourhood that fits within your price range.

You can maximize your home purchase location by incorporating some of the following strategies into your neighbourhood search:

• Look for communities that are likely to become "hot neighbourhoods" in the coming years. They can often be discovered on the periphery of the most continuously desirable areas.
• Look for a home in a good neighbourhood that is a bit farther out of the city. If commuting is a concern, purchase a home that is close to public transportation.
• Look at the neighbourhood demand by asking us whether multiple offers are being made, whether the gap between the list price and sale price is decreasing, and whether there is active community involvement. You can also drive around neighbourhoods and see how many "sold" signs there are in a particular area.
• Look into purchasing a condominium or co-op, rather than a house, in a desirable neighbourhood. This way you still may be able to purchase in a prime area that you otherwise could not afford.