Home Buying – Living, Playing and Working

So, if you’ve spent any time looking for homes, you’ve probably heard the comment “location, location, location” from several people. This is something real estate agents like to push when they are trying to determine which homes will sell across their market. The thing is, it’s more than just a sales line from agents…location is actually one of the most important things to consider when buying a home.

The location of your house could determine several things, including the overall cost, work commute, school district, monthly bills, weather, and activities available in your local community.

Now, if you are currently in the market for a new home and you are shopping around, it’s important to understand how much location should play a role in your search. Finding the right real estate team can help offer you a head start on selecting the best locations for your needs. But if you are just starting your home buying process, let’s dig in more to understand why you should take the location of you next place as such an important topic.

Place Where You’ll Live, Play, & Work

Now lots of Buyers get excited about their next home and the home-buying process. Everything is available online and through social media, so it’s easy for Buyers to get focused on the features of the house itself, instead of the location and the community. With all the travel restrictions, work reductions, and hybrid school schedules in 2020 people are spending more time at home. This makes the neighborhood and surrounding area even more important than in previous years, since many businesses and schools are implementing more permanent structures to allow for less face-to-face activities and more home-based work or learning.

So, what are some points to consider? Finding a safe and suitable neighborhood is generally a top priority. Also, considerations for school or work arrangements, including:

• What school district are you in?
• Where are the schools and start times?
• Do they have bus or public transportation to the schools?
• How far is your commute to and from work? Or future work options?
• Will you be able to take public transportation?
• If not, is there adequate parking for your vehicles?
• How will these specifics have an effect on you and your life?

Finally, since you cannot be in your home all the time, what local activities, restaurants, parks, and stores are available, so you have things to do in the neighborhood. Looking for communities that have activities that match up with your interests can help you make a more informed decision on which location is right for you! The same goes for all members of your family, so that everyone can feel at home quickly and make a smooth transition to the new neighborhood.

Go Location Hunting, Not House Hunting

Approximately 9 out of 10 home Buyers rely on the internet as one of their primary search sources, and 52% turn to the web as their first step in the process. Robust online search options have made it easier than ever to see multiple home all over the country and photos, videos, and virtual tours have all helped to drive this activity. However, nothing can beat actually seeing a home or a neighborhood in person to give you the ultimate sights, sounds, and feel of the community. The photos online are important, but everything about the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms of a home can actually be altered at any time in the future. The most important part of any home is where it sits in the world, what surrounds the property, and what types neighborhood, amenities, and views make it the right fit for you.

Making the Right Investment

So when it’s time to make your next move, be sure that you and your family are thinking of “location, location, location” and the investment for the future. You may find a great deal on a house, but if it’s located next to a noisy railroad track or a busy highway, there might be a reason for the low-price opportunity. It also might make that home more difficult to sell in the future just based on the location. Alternatively, when you look at homes in prime neighborhoods, they might seem like more money required to invest in the same square footage of other housing options, but keep in mind the following: neighborhood, future demand, school district, proximity to work zones, home appreciation, quality of life, and true value of the location.

If you are needing help with home buying process, you can always Contact Us for a no obligation conversation about your options and ideas for your future. We’ll do our best to help you assess the market and make a quality home buying decision to help you achieve your goals. Until then, enjoy your current “location, location, location” and stay safe in 2020!