Although the size, style and price of a home will be key factors in your decision to buy, most Realtors will tell you it's the location of your new home that's most important.
One of the many services a Realtor provides is helping homebuyers find the right location for them.
What are you looking for?
Obviously your budget will play a large role in determining where you end up buying. For example, $200,000 will buy a lot more house in the country than it will in the city. But other things like the style of home you want, desired features and amenities will also factor in. It's a good idea to write down everything you need and desire from your new neighbourhood and develop a checklist to take with you. Some of the key questions a Realtor will ask you include:
o Do you need to be close to your workplace or are you willing to commute?
o What type of home are you looking for? If you want a larger home, you may need to look at the suburbs as opposed to the city. Or if you want a big property with room to move around, you may need to consider a rural community.
o Do you need to be close to a major hospital, school or place of worship?
o What is your main mode of transportation? Do you need easy access to public transportation or would you like to be able to walk to the corner store?
o What activities are you involved in? Do you want the quieter lifestyle of a rural setting or do you prefer the action of a larger city?
Sometimes, affording your first home can be a real challenge. But your Realtor will have tips and advice on how to afford your first home and can help you locate "starter homes" or even a "handyman special" in your desired neighbourhood.
This type of home could be more economical if you are willing to put in some elbow grease to fix it up.
Once you've located the neighbourhood you want, spend some time there to get a feel for it. Be sure to visit at different times of day to see what traffic is like and how quiet or noisy it is. Check out the properties to see how well (or not so well) kept they are. Usually when the majority of homes are tidy and kept up, it's a good sign that there is a sense of pride and community among the neighbours.
If you still like it there, you're ready to look at available properties. Armed with all the information you've provided, your Realtor will develop a short list of homes in the neighborhood that best match your criteria and budget.
The following checklist may be helpful in determining your location priorities. Identify each preference with an N or a W (for "needs" and "wants") and add others that are important to you.
o Quiet street
o Shopping within walking distance or short drive
o Parks or playgrounds
o Golf course
o Skating rinks
o Restaurants
o Theatres
o Community centre
o Public swimming pool/tennis courts
o Public library
o Places of worship
o Retail services
o Police/fire department
o Day care
o Snow removal
o Hospital/medical (doctors, dentists, etc.)
o Commuter routes
o Close to work
o Near major highway
o Near public transportation
o Schools
o School-operated transportation available - Courtesy of the Ontario Real Estate Association
