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Where Do You Want to Live?

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty

Congratulations!  You've decided that it really is a good time to buy a house.  Before you even contact a real estate professional, ask yourself this question:  Where do I want to live?   Seems like a simple question doesn't it?  Well it should be but one of the most common answers that I get when working with buyers is "I don't know", "anywhere" or "it doesn't matter as long as..."

Don't worry if you can't decide or if you really don't know, your real estate agent should be able to help you narrow your focus.

Where do you want to live is a very important question that you, as a buyer, need to answer before your househunt begins.  Why is it so important?  Consider the following:

  1. The more specific detail you provide your real estate agent, the better your agent will be able to work more efficiently in finding a home that you can truly be happy with (and its location is an important factor in the search)
  2. It would be a good idea if you were familiar with the area or community where you will eventually live.  If you have school aged children, would you want to buy a home in a school system that has a reputation of poor performance?
  3. If your real estate agent were to find you the perfect house that was located in a neighborhood that you wouldn't be caught dead in, you would probably consider your agent a poor agent.  Well you did say it didn't matter right?
  4. Would driving 45 minutes or 30 miles to work each day be problem for you?
  5. What type of amenities do you want to have nearby (i.e. lots of eateries, shopping center, museum, entertainment, child care, etc.)?

There are all things to consider with regard to location.  So again I ask:  Where do you want to live?

Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Charita, only once in my real estate career has someone NOT been concerned about schools. Good questions for buyers to clarify and help you hone what they are looking for.

Jan 22, 2010 05:01 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Schools are probably the #1 reason (if a household with children) buyers choose particular communities.  I just used to find it odd that many people did not give a lot of thought to where they wanted to live.  Fortunately it's nothing a little discussion can't reveal.

Jan 22, 2010 09:11 PM
Gerry Michaels
Glasswork Media Arts - Gettysburg, PA
GettysburgGerry Social Meida

Charita, Great list, one thing that really bothers me is when a client isn't specifiic at all, they say I only want to look in a certain area, then you do your search, and they bring you listings they found on line in area's they told you they didn't want to look. Drives me nuts

Jan 23, 2010 03:35 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Even if schools aren't an issue for buyers I represent, I remind them that it could be important to people that may want to purchase their home if they need to sell it later on.  As a result, we are always conscious of school systems when considering "where".

Jan 23, 2010 07:25 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Gerry that has happened to me a lot.  Usually when we start running into deadends in their desired location, I usually will begin to send them listing outside of their desired areas and they are open to to looking.

That's a very good point Ann particularly since the best time to think about selling is when you buy.

Jan 23, 2010 09:18 AM