Where You Buy Can Trump What You Buy
Posted by David Zadareky on Saturday, August 20th, 2011 at 3:02pm.
When buying a home in Alexandria or other areas, we naturally focus on the actual dwelling place, how much we like it and whether or not we can afford it. However, just as important as what we buy is where we buy it. Having a house we love in a neighborhood we hate is not the American Dream.
From an article on the MSN Real Estate site, here are five ways to make sure the location of your next home will make you as happy as the home itself.
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Take a Long-Term Approach – Don’t just think about your life right now; think about where you’re headed. Are you planning a family? You’ll feel more connected in a neighborhood with other young families. If you’ve recently lost a spouse, you might fare better in a place where you can easily get to a bookstore or coffee shop. Talk with people in your current situation about where they live and why they like it there. Alternatively, research places online through sites like Neighborhood Scout or City-data.com.
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Check Your Facts – You might hear through the grapevine that a city such as Alexandria has great schools or a low crime rate, but you need to verify this before you choose. Is the area you want free of special taxes? Will there be a freeway going through your front yard in a year? Check city and county records for documents on everything from a community’s crime statistics to its financial standing. Take a tour of a local school and talk to the principal to see if it lives up to the hype.
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Don’t Ignore the Commute Time – Beautiful house, lovely Alexandria neighborhood. Too bad you never get to see it because you leave for work before sunrise and get home after sunset. In addition, the gas prices for a long commute could cut down on that disposable income. The traffic at 11:00 a.m. when you walk through the home will not be the same as at rush hour. Drive the route from your potential home to your job during the morning and evening commute time. If it takes 45 minutes or longer, think twice about buying. A recent study from Sweden says that relationships where one partner commutes longer than 45 minutes are 40% more likely to break up.
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Talk to Your Potential Neighbors – Don’t just drive through. Stop, get out, and strike up a conversation with folks active in the neighborhood. Walk around both morning and evening to see what goes on (or doesn’t go on) and how comfortable you are with that. Look at the other houses. If you see lots of condos and older folks, this might not be a good neighborhood if you’re starting a family.
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Consider Services and Culture in the Area – Think about how you have fun. Is it fast food and bowling alleys or nightclubs and art galleries? You also don’t want to have to drive miles to get the services you want. If possible, book a hotel near the neighborhood and spend a weekend checking things out the way a tourist would. Also, look for vacant buildings or half-finished construction work that could indicate the neighborhood may be declining.
Your house and your neighborhood are not two separate entities. They really go together to create the place you’ll call home for many years. Do your research to be sure you’re happy with both before you make your final buying decision.
The Alexandria area boasts some of the loveliest neighborhoods in the country. If you’re in the market to make a move in Northern Virginia, you owe it to yourself to work with an exceptional real estate team committed to Going Beyond Your Expectations. That team is RE/MAX Evolution & David Zadareky.
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