Choosing Your Next Home: What Are The Most Important Factors?

Before you buy or rent a new home, it's essential to assess what you're looking for. Whether it's a rental or you're buying a house or condo, location is a top priority, but it's only one of many factors that will influence your decision. Below are a few more things to consider when choosing your next home, presented by Lori Anderson-Benson.

Distance to Work and Everything Else

When you’re relocating for a new job, your priority might be to find the closest place possible to your new workplace, especially if you're new to the area. This decision may mean living in a more expensive neighborhood with less room to move around, such as fewer bedrooms or only a small backyard for entertaining.

However, whether you're renting or buying, your commute is always a significant factor to consider when choosing a new place. Whether that's by bus, train, car, or bike, you'll want to manage it as painlessly as possible. If your new place is too far from your work, you could spend a lot more time in traffic, which can increase daily stressors.

Abundance of Amenities

As well as being near your job, your new place must be close to everything else that matters. Whether the grocery store or pharmacy or a coffee shop, factor in the distance to these amenities when choosing your new home. Other essential things could include proximity to local parks or trails, a gym, and other recreational facilities.

Quality of School Districts

If you have kids or plan on having them, their educational needs will also influence your decision of where to live. Living close to top-quality school districts is vital for many families, so you'll want to factor in the location of schools when choosing your new place. While you may not need to live directly next door, being close enough is essential so that your child can walk to school, which could save you time and money on car expenses.

Size of the Living Space

When you're moving to a new home, you'll want to consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms are available. If you have pets, being near a local park or walking path is also beneficial. For entertaining, look for a place with plenty of room to entertain and for overnight guests to stay. If you're renting, think about whether you'll need storage space for your belongings.

For individuals and families that aren't sure if owning or renting is a better option, there are a few ways to help you decide. Use websites to look into the local housing market, and then compare the prices for buying and renting in your desired area. You may find it's less expensive to buy a home when compared to the cost of renting.

The real estate market is hot right now, with rentals and homes for sale going fast. A real estate agent can help you with these decisions, so you don't miss out on the perfect new living space. An experienced agent can work with you to find the ideal neighborhood in Vancouver that's close to your job with the amenities you want.

Factors For Finding Your Next Home

Choosing where you're going to live is a huge undertaking, and you need to think about proximity to your job, schools, and recreational activities. Consider working with Lori to narrow down your options quickly.