For Buyers

Finding the right neighborhood

Choosing a neighborhood that's right for you is an important step in your property search. If you love the house, but find your neighbors insufferable, or if you have the perfect kitchen, but have to endure a boring two-hour commute to work, you'll never feel completely happy living there.

So it's important to ask yourself if the neighborhood is right for your family before you start looking for a home in that neighborhood (at least before you make an offer to buy). Go explore the neighborhood, take a walk down its streets, visit its shops and restaurants, and get your hands on a copy of the neighborhood newspaper to get a better idea of the personality of the place.

Here are a few questions to help you determine whether a neighborhood is right for you:

How does the neighborhood look? Do the houses look well maintained? Even in mid-priced areas, the pride of ownership helps maintain property values. Look out for signs of neglect, such as unkempt lawns, faded paint and vacant lots (which may be zoned for commercial use, or destined for landfill). On the other hand, if an area has a high proportion of neglected-looking homes, but you also see some properties that appear to have undergone recent renovations, this may indicate that the neighborhood is gentrifying; buying a property in this area and restoring it may represent a good long-term investment.

What kind of people live in the neighborhood? Families? Retired people? First-time homeowners? Professionals without children? For example, a neighborhood inhabited mainly by young families will seem very different from one with a high proportion of university students. It all depends on your lifestyle and stage of life!

Is it conveniently located? Find out how far you'll have to travel to do routine things like grocery shopping. Where's the nearest fitness center? The dry cleaner? The post office? Are there parks and recreational facilities? Living close to amenities isn't important for everyone, but it can save you a lot of time on a daily basis and can transform your experience of the neighborhood; a place where people walk to the store or library has a different charm from a place where people have to take the car to go shopping.

Are there schools nearby? If you have children, you also need to think about the proximity and quality of the schools. Phone the nearest schools, or check the Internet for survey results and top school rankings. Find out the exact location of the schools so you can assess whether your children will be able to walk to them, or whether they'll need to be taken by car or bus.

How long will it take you to get to work? Drive to work during rush hour. Find out how often the bus passes the house you want and how far away the highways are. If you need to get to the airport frequently, which mode of transportation is easiest? Car, bus or cab?

What about property values? Since your property represents an investment, it's best to buy in an area where property values are certain to rise. Ask your real estate agent to provide you with information on the evolution of property values in your area over the last 10 years, so that you can better assess the progression to come.

What's planned for the neighborhood? Development projects can change the character of a neighborhood, as well as increasing taxes and traffic.

Is it quiet or noisy? Visit the neighborhood at different times to get an idea of the noise level. A quiet street can turn into a party area once the sun goes down, and a location near a freeway may be generally quiet, but become very noisy at rush hour. Listen for traffic noise, barking dogs, loud music or aircraft flying overhead.

Choosing a neighborhood you'll enjoy is just as important as choosing a home that inspires you. Good neighbors, good schools, nearby amenities and trendy stores are all factors that can influence your overall feeling about your future home or condo. So don't hesitate to contact an agent familiar with the area you're interested in, do your research, and you should be able to find a community that suits your needs and lifestyle.