Location, location, location….
Buying a home is the largest investment most of us ever become involved in. Having a Home Buyers Report (Link) is a useful tool to help you make informed decisions through the process.
An important item that is reflected in the report is to consider the location where your new home would be. A home with everything you need, but in the wrong location is probably not the right home for you. Here are some other things to consider:
- Do you want to live in a city, a town or in the countryside?
- How easy will it be to get to where you work? How much will the commuting cost?
- Where will your children got to school? How will they get there?
- Do you need a safe walking area or recreational facility, such as a park, nearby?
- How close would you like to be to family and friends?
When you find a prospective dream home, take time to get a feel for the locals and how you might fit in. Consider the area’s infrastructure, from roads to utilities, to schools and other public facilities.
When you walk up and down the street of the neighbourhood, can you picture yourself living there for several years into the future?
Consider the following as well:
- Is public and private property maintained to your satisfaction?
- Have home values risen, fallen, or remained stable in the recent past.
- Are there any known projects on the horizon which could substantially change the quality of the lifestyle or the home prices in the area?
- Do you understand the effect of the registered bylaws of the strata corporation? Example, do the bylaws restrict your right to rent the property or prohibit pets? Could the bylaws affect your quality of lifestyle and/or impact or protect the property’s value in the future?
Consider the location where your new home would be. Take time to get a feel for the locals and how you might fit in.
Read more… http://www.recbc.ca/consumer/buyinghome.html
