The House Looks Great—But What About the Location?
Sometimes the house is fantastic.
The kitchen is updated.
The floors are beautiful.
The backyard is perfect.
And then you step outside and realize:
Wait a minute…what’s that noise?
This is why I want buyers to look beyond the property itself.
Traffic
Drive the area during the times you’ll actually be coming and going.
A quiet street at 11:00 a.m. may be very different during rush hour.
Think about:
- Commute times
- School traffic
- Nearby intersections
- Cut-through traffic
- Parking
Noise
Listen for things you can’t see in listing photos.
Trains.
Airplanes.
Highways.
Commercial properties.
Schools.
Parks.
Neighbors.
Dogs.
None of these things are automatically bad.
But you should know what you’re buying.
What’s Nearby?
Look around.
What’s within a few blocks?
What’s a few miles away?
Think about:
- Shopping
- Restaurants
- Schools
- Parks
- Gas stations
- Medical facilities
- Entertainment
- Major roads
Also look at what you may not want nearby.
What’s Coming?
This is an important question.
Are there vacant lots nearby?
New developments?
Road projects?
Commercial construction?
Ask questions and research what you can.
No one can predict every future change.
But you don’t want to discover six months after closing that a major project was already planned nearby.
Look Behind the House
This is one people forget.
Don’t only look at the backyard.
Look beyond it.
What’s behind the property?
Another home?
A business?
A railroad?
Open land?
A major road?
Something else?
What is behind your house may matter just as much as what’s inside it.
Property Taxes
The location can also affect your overall housing cost through property taxes.
Look at the actual property information rather than assuming every house in an area has the same tax bill.
And remember that tax situations can change.
Think About Your Commute
Don’t underestimate this.
A house that saves you $20,000 but adds an hour to your daily commute may not actually be the bargain it appears to be.
Time matters.
Gas matters.
Stress matters.
Your daily life matters.
Visit More Than Once
If you really like a house, go back if you can.
See it at a different time.
Drive the neighborhood.
Listen.
Look.
Pay attention.
The more informed you are, the fewer surprises you’re likely to have.
You Are Buying the Location, Too
When you buy a house, you’re buying the property.
But you’re also buying:
the street, the neighborhood and the location.
You don’t have to find a location that is perfect for everyone.
You need one that works for you.
And that’s worth taking the time to figure out before you make the biggest purchase of your life.
Have a Question?
Buying a home comes with a lot of questions. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
Have a question about something you read here? Want to talk through your situation? Or just not sure what your next step should be?
I’m happy to help.
Schedule a Time to Talk With Karyn
No pressure. No obligation. Just straight answers.
Prefer to just send me a question?