Back to: February 2019


How to Choose a Neighborhood
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Choosing a neighborhood is almost as critical as choosing a house or apartment. It needs to be safe with low crime rates, affordable, and provide you with everything that you need.

If you're planning on purchasing a home, keep in mind that you're not just buying a house, you're investing in a neighborhood. The two are synonymous so you need to be extra careful in choosing the area you'll be living in.

You can't judge a book by its cover, nor a neighbourhood by its looks. Ultimately, you want to buy a house that will still be in a desirable place to live 10 or 15 years from now. Depending on your own particular needs and tastes, some of the following factors may be more important considerations than others:

  • Style of homes
  • Quality of schools
  • Property values
  • Crime rate
  • Future construction
  • Proximity to: schools, employment, hospitals, shopping, public transportation, cultural activities,  highways, beaches, parks, shopping, recreation and spiritual or community organizations (churches, temples, mosques, etc.)

If you’re a first-time buyer with limited financial resources, it’s a wise purchasing strategy to buy a home that meets your primary needs in the best neighbourhood that fits within your price range.

You can maximize your home purchase location by incorporating some of the following strategies into your neighbourhood search:

  • Look for communities that are likely to become "hot neighbourhoods" in the coming years. They can often be discovered on the periphery of the most continuously desirable areas.
  • Look for a home in a good neighbourhood that is a bit farther out of the city. If commuting is a concern, purchase a home that is close to public transportation.
  • Look at the neighbourhood demand by asking whether multiple offers are being made, whether the gap between the list price and sale price is decreasing, and whether there is an active community involvement. You can also drive around neighbourhoods and see how many "sold" signs there are in a particular area.
  • Look into purchasing a condominium or co-op, rather than a house, in a desirable neighbourhood. This way you may still be able to purchase in a prime area that you otherwise could not afford.
  • Consider the safety issues such as traffic and how your kids are going to get to school. Paying attention to the local school system is valuable even if you don’t have children or plan to because many potential buyers are concerned with that issue. A thriving school district can be an indication of an area that will continue to rise in property values.

Of course, being too close to the school or boxed in by traffic jams can hurt the resale value of your home. You should also check how local students score on standardized tests to help determine the quality of the education taught in the area.

There are a few more sources that can provide assistance in learning about a neighbourhood:

  • Go have dinner at one of the restaurants in the area. You can strike up conversations with some of the local patrons in that restaurant.
  • Talk to local business owners. Even if they don't live in the area, they will have some insight about the neighbourhood and people living there.
  • Find out about owner-occupancy. Your agent is a good source for this kind of information. Ask about rental values - even if you plan to live in the home. Often tenants don't have the same pride of homeownership that owners do; thus properties are not always kept up.
  • Check the landscaping at major commercial developments. Is it kept up?
    Visit local facilities such as malls, movie theatres, etc. Frequently these will be hang-outs for school-aged children and  good place to get an idea about the neighbourhoodt kids.
  • Drive through the neighbourhood and see if there are a lot of home remodelling projects going on. If so, it likely means homeowners are planning to stick around and are willing to invest more in their homes because they like the neighbourhood.


Once you have identified your preferred neighbourhood, make several visits to it on different days and times, coming back in the evening, on weekends, and during school time hours to see how the area changes. Observing the neighbourhood and the people who live and work in the area will give you a better understanding of whether its a fit for you and your family. The more time you spend studying the location the less likely you are to discover something you really dislike after you have bought the home.

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With Compliments of

Michele Vyge-Fraser
Real Estate Agent/ Associate Broker/ CNE®


Red Door Realty
1314 Cathedral Lane
Chapter House
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H4S7
T: 902-830-6397
D: 902-830-6397
NovaScotiaRealEstate@gmail.com
www.RedDoorRealty.ca



NATIONAL MORTGAGE RATES
Term Posted
Rates*
Best
Rates*
6 Months 3.34% 3.30%
1 Year 3.59% 3.04%
2 Years 3.74% 2.89%
3 Years 3.89% 2.79%
4 Years 3.95% 2.95%
5 Years 5.34% 2.69%
7 Years 5.80% 2.99%
10 Years 6.10% 3.04%
Variable Rate 2.90%
Prime Rate ** 3.95%
*last updated: Feb 18,2020


https://www.reddoorrealty.ca

388 Robertson Road, Egerton/Merigomish, Pictou County!

Fabulous Ocean Views Property ~ a Must Sea :)

List Price $825,000

Have you been dreaming of Nova Scotia Pictou County Seaside Living less than 2 hours from the Halifax Airport? Imagine warm Northumberland Strait waters, uncrowded sandy beaches, fabulous boating, easy fishing, and a beautiful move-in ready 3-level seaside year-round home or seasonal luxury getaway with almost 360 degrees of gorgeous ocean views, deeded water access, and boat mooring! Located in an established Egerton private community, this property offers 3 great bedrooms, bathrooms on each level, vaulted ceilings great room, a private family room, and office space with excellent internet, gorgeous landscaping and gardens, sunrise, sunset, cocktails, and coffee decks, outdoor private dining gazebo, 2 car detached heated garage with workshop, cedar lined garden shed... all this and more plus the fishing boat, 2 kayaks and ride on lawn mower can be included! Bonus... Melmerby and Big Island Beaches are close by too! This area is truly one of Nova Scotia's best-kept secrets because these opportunities are rare. MLS 202314229

 

27 Kingsmere Court, Timberlea

List Price $599,000

Close to the golfing, skating, cross country skiing and walking trail amenities in Brunello Estates plus St Margaret Bay beaches and boating, this beautiful large home huge fenced in property has been family owned since 1981. And the exceptional location is on a wonderful cul-de-sac in a great Timberlea neighbourhood! Perfect for growing families, this family home is bright and cheerful and includes an eat-in kitchen, separate dining room, large living room, spacious family room, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, lots of storage and an attached garage. 27 Kingsmere Court is also perfectly located at the top of the circle. The home and property have been exceptionally well cared for over the years with many recent updates. Pride of ownership, great curb appeal, amazing lifestyle and a happy home. Definitely a must see! Quick closing available. MLS 202323649

Halifax Mortgage Specialist Bruce Lusby 

(902) 210-0515

http://mortgageweb.ca/BruceLusby

Halifax, Nova Scotia - updated Oct 6, 2015

Variable:

5yr @ Prime - .65% (2.05%)

HELOC @ Prime +.25% (2.95%)

Fixed:
1yr 2.29%
2yr 2.09%
3yr 2.24%
4yr 2.54%
5yr 2.54%
6yr 3.39%
7yr 3.44%
10yr 3.84%

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The material in this publication is provided for your informational purpose only and is not intended to substitute professional advice. If your property is currently listed with a Real Estate Broker, this publication is not intended as a solicitation.