Determining the Best Place to Live and Location for your Home

Location is one of the most important considerations when looking for a new home.  Compare real estate locations as carefully as you compare available houses.  Here are some popular criteria when determining the best location to buy a home.

1. Good paying jobs:  Find a county or city that has experienced the most job growth over the last five years or more.  Research to see if the old established employment opportunity of the community is solid.  Track the county or city’s commitment to economic development.  Look for upgrading in the area’s infrastructure and favorite tax rate; they often attract more employers and businesses.  Traditionally, the core employers of many areas are the local and state government and the school systems.  The more economical opportunities the better.

1. Low crime:  Area safety is unquestionably more appealing consideration in relocation.  Contact the area’s law enforcement department for statistics.

1. Affordable homes:  Your home price needs to fit your budget.  Find a place you can afford with a mortgage that leave you enough money for saving and an emergency fund that could cover up to eight months of living expense.  Add about 40 % to cover home insurance, utilities and repair to your monthly mortgage payments.  Older homes may be in more established neighborhoods, offer more local identity, and have lower property tax rates, but may need frequent repairs.  Newer homes tend to use more modern architecture and are built according to the latest regulations, are usually easier to maintain, and may be more energy efficient, but usually cost more than older homes.  With affordable home market area, your money can buy more options in the home.

1. Lots of things to do:  Select a community that will allow you to best live your daily life; a good place to work and a good place to play; the area that offers you more lifestyle variety.

1. Top-notch schools:  To get the most information about school systems, contact the city or county school board or the local schools.  Your real estate agent may also be knowledgeable about schools in the area.  Don’t rule out community colleges or universities; they enliven the community and add value.

1. Good health care:  Locate adequate health care facilities that provide a full range of quality healthcare services for your routine and emergency medical needs.  Select hospitals in the area that are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.  Accredited healthcare facilities means they had passed certain criteria and regulations; better choice for you and your family.

1. Weather:  Weather plays a large role in the degree of satisfactory in daily life.  Some places have rain nine months of the year.  Some places have sunshine year-round but the residents have to worry about yearly hurricane season.  In some places, winter can be icy.

1. Ambience:  This is the indefinable feelings that connect you to the place; the sense of community spirit; the simple charm; the good feeling of home that draws someone looking for a great place to live and raise a family.

Since your home is probably your largest and most expensive asset, it helps to make the right buying choice in the beginning.  Know your home requirements and do your homework before you hire a real estate agent to help you search for the property to call home; this will take the stress out of your house-hunting and make your real estate buying more fun and productive.