Choosing the Location of Your Next Home
Location has perhaps the most determining effect on the future market value of your property. To find out about all the necessary aspects to be aware of when thinking of moving to a new place, read the rest of this article.
Population - ask yourself, what is the characteristic population of the neighbourhood. Some might attract younger couples, students, urban artists while others house predominantly retired workers.
Crime rate - crime rate is surely one of those factors which everyone worries aboutveryone worries about. Your best bet is to call the loYour best bet is to ca best bet is to call the local police department - ask them to provide detailed information and advice. When drivinn and advice. When driving around or walking, look for signs such as bars on accessible windows, fences, beware of the dog signs. Vandalism has traces - broken wieware of the dog signs. Vandalism has traces - broken windows or graffite are one of them.
Traffic - heavy traffic can cause many unpleasant moments. Make sure you drive around the area in peak times if you can. Another way to check is to look for traffic lights and signs. The more there are, the denser the traffic and the more waiting time for you. Factor in your population research as well.
Noise - along with heavy traffic comes a lot of annoying noise. It can be also sourced from a nearby factory, airport, train station or even playgrounds. Don't underestimate the last one - 20 kids on a playground are louder than a highway with trucks zooming by.
Smells - nearby factories, processing plants, water recycling facilities, gas stations or bakeries can bring strong unpleasant smells. Again, the best is to check by taking a walk and asking the neighbours.
Visual Pollution - ball fields that play night games, power lines, radio and television towers, bus fleet parking spots, 24/7 shopping zones and big nightclubs are known to light up the skies at night. If you care about pitch black darkness, don't choose a spot which is of considerable proximity to the listed things above. Living in metropolitan areas such as Vancouver will always present a problem of this kind. The most you can do is to choose a house where the bedroom windows aren't facing the city or there's some sort of a visual barrier such as a smaller forest or hilltops.
Comute time - depending on your lifestyle, you should factor in commute times as well. How long does it take to reach your office, the nearby amenities, hopsitals or the centre? Is it complicated to drive around?
International access - if you often travel internationally or have visitors coming several times a year, you should consider looking for a neighbourhood with a good proximity or easy road access.
Day vs. Night - some neighbourhoods have split personalities, so to say, as they can attract a completely different crowd at day compared to night. What might seem as a quiet and relaxed part of the town can turn into a rush monster after sunset. Things to look out for are nearby clubs, bars, When choosing your next location, make sure you'll take a walk at night as well.
About the Author: Jay Banks has been an accomplished Vancouver real estate expert since 1991. For more information and other great articles, visit his website http://www.jaybanks.ca
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