If you’re in the house hunting market, your dream house will be highly dependent upon your chosen neighbourhood. Your perspective neighbourhoods can greatly influence the price of your future home, along with the comfort of your family for many years to come. When choosing your new home, be sure to choose the right neighbourhood too, by considering these helpful hints and suggestions.
Public Transportation
Many people require public transportation for their commute to and from work every day. If this sounds a bit like you, always check out the train and bus routes before choosing your new neighbourhood. Being within the vicinity of public transport is also great if you have a growing family, allowing your children to have the freedom of making their own way to school or various other commitments.
Close to Major Facilities
While it may not be something that you first consider, being close to major freeways, hospitals, airports or shopping districts can influence your choice of neighbourhood. While it most certainly wouldn’t be ideal to live directly in the line of heavy air traffic or a fast flowing highway, being within a close distance to major facilities, such as these, can make your life much easier. For growing families, it is often important to be close to medical facilities, such as hospitals. You should always consider all of these aspects when choosing your future neighbourhood.
Schools & Child Care
For many families, choosing the right neighbourhood is linked in very closely with local schools. Every parent wants the best education for their children, so choosing a neighbourhood which offers good schools and child care options is a must for many families. While you may not move to the same suburb as your child’s chosen school, always ensure that transportation options are readily available for easy travel to and from school.
New Estates
There is often a debate about whether a new estate, an established suburb or rural properties provide better living environments. After living in all three areas, I believe that it has more to do with your current lifestyle and the needs of your family. House and land packages can often provide a great start for new families, offering modern features and a new home, for just a fraction of the price in other suburbs or cities. New estates are often built close to major facilities and often house their own child care centres or schooling systems. Many estates also have shopping centres within the surrounds, providing a handy alternative for busy families.
Neighbourhood Reputation
Now I’m not saying that a bad neighbourhood reputation necessarily means bad neighbours or an unsafe living environment, but you should consider the reputation of your perspective neighbourhood, in regards to the resale value of your property. The status of your neighbourhood can dramatically affect real estate prices, often leaving a great home with very little resale value. If you are considering moving in the future, whether it is 2 years or 20 years down the track, always consider the reputation of your neighbourhood.
For the perfect family home and the ideal living environment, be sure to consider your neighbourhood when buying your new house!
