Whether you are a first time buyer, or a seasoned homeowner upsizing or downsizing it’s really important that you know what you want in a new home. It’s not just about the actual home you are buying you need to consider, it's also about what the neighbourhood has to offer. There are lots of things to keep in mind, here’s a list of a few things you might want to consider. When making any of these decisions don’t just think about what you need today, give some thought to how things will change in the next 3-5 years.
Size
What size of home do you need now, and what size of home will you need in 5 years? Is your family growing or will you be empty nesters soon?
Lifestyle
If you’re planning to travel more you may want to consider how much maintenance and upkeep your new home will need. If you’re starting a family a backyard may be a must have. Condo amenities may seem very attractive but are you going to use them? Or could they mean you can cancel a costly gym membership?
Community
The school catchment area may be a deal breaker but the proximity of places of worship may be of little interest. Is there walkable shopping? Are there dog parks in the area, playgrounds, baseball diamonds…?
Transportation
Do you need access to highways or public transit? Will your kids be taking the bus to school? What’s your dream neighbourhood’s walk score? Is the area bike friendly, do you care?
Recreation
Is there a community centre in the area? Public swimming pool? Nature trails? Playgrounds? Tennis Courts? Soccer pitches? If you are looking at condos make sure the amenities available suit your needs.
Once you’ve created a list, divide it into must-haves and nice-to-haves, it’s important to know your priorities. Now that you know what you want, you need to figure out what you can afford. Please visit our blog What Every First Time Buyer Needs To Know, it’s got some great resources for both first time buyers and seasoned homeowners. Buying a new home is exciting, it can be overwhelming too, please reach out if you’ve got any questions, I’m happy to help.
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