It is so easy now to find homes on the internet that you may wish to buy. Finding the right home is often just half of the equation. You also need to look at various neighbourhoods that will suit your needs. If you are new to the Ottawa area there are various districts to choose from and they all offer their own perks.
Here are some ideas you may wish to consider when finding a suitable neighbourhood.
- Take a road trip
First make a list of where you may wish to live. Do you want to be close to schools or your work? Are you looking for an area that is a smaller neighbourhood in a rural setting or do you wish to be in the suburbs or downtown? Is being close to your relatives important to you?
Take a drive through the various neighbourhoods and keep a note on what neighbourhoods fit your lifestyle for yourself or your family. This is a very important step because you want to feel comfortable in the area where you wish to live. Always check out the neighbourhoods both during the day and the evening.
- Look and Feel
When you are driving through the neighbourhood take a look at the houses and observe if they are well-kept and maintained. Are there any vacant houses? Are there any new commercial developments slated for the area where you want to live? You may not want to live in a home and find out a large development will be right behind your home. Some commercial developments can lower the value of your home so make sure you find out about the area before you decide to buy.
- Amenities and schools
If you tend to frequent restaurants or grocery stores, take a look at what each neighbourhood has to offer. Do you need to be near a hockey arena or hospitals? Also consider the noise level if there are any bars or restaurants near the area where you are looking to purchase. If you have children that will be attending school you may want to find out about the various schools in the area. Will they suit your children’s needs? Perhaps you want to be in a more mature neighbourhood that is central to downtown? Make sure your needs will be met before you buy.
- Commute time
You may fall in love with a home on the outskirts but if the commute is quite a distance, you may find your home less and less appealing. Commute time is very important especially in the winter. If you have a long commute it can drastically reduce the amount of time with family and friends also. Find out about public transit. Check with bus, train or light rail options. How long will it take you to get to work, daycare or schools?
- Home values and taxes
Statistics for the Canadian market say that most people will move homes about every 5 years. This is why it is very important to find out if your home will increase in value over time. The value of your home is often decided by the housing type and district where you live. If there will be future development in your area you may find that your taxes will also increase substantially to pay for new infrastructure. These are all factors to think about before purchase.
- Value of a professional real estate team
There is nothing more important than having a reliable, professional real estate team to help you with the purchase of your next home. Our Anne Winch Ottawa Real Estate and Staging Team will consult with you to find the best fit for your lifestyle and family needs. We have been in the real estate business for may years and know the Ottawa area like the back of our hand. If you are trying to find the right neighbourhood and perfect home, leave it to us and we will make sure that we find the right fit. Find out how we can help you with your next house hunting trip.