Of all the things that you can’t change about your home, your neighborhood or locality, and community definitely tops the list. After all, it’s an uphill task to make changes to and renovate a house, let alone a neighborhood.
In short, location matters. Ensure that you don’t overlook the importance of a location when you’re buying your first home.
Home buyers typically have a list of key factors they give utmost importance to when deciding where to live. Let’s take a look at some of the most crucial steps that you must not miss out on when you are about to choose a neighborhood, perfect for you.
1. Make a checklist to choose a neighborhood
When you have too many choices, you tend to get confused. This can lead to buyer’s remorse especially when you end up making a not so good decision. It’s always better to narrow down your options with a simple checklist. Take a minute to think about the neighborhood that you live in. Then make a comprehensive list of pros-and-cons.
Once you’ve decided what you like about your neighborhood, and what you don’t like, start a new list. This list shall contain details of what you want in a your new neighborhood. Once you are done with both the lists, combine the two. The result is a list of your must-haves.
Now comes the difficult part. You’ll have to choose between your needs and your wants. Decide what you can and can’t live without. If a neighborhood checks all your boxes, it is most likely to be expensive.
Prioritize your needs so that the selection process can be easier. Everyone’s lists will be different, but keep on reading for some insightful considerations that’d definitely help you.
2. Walkability
Walking is a lifestyle choice. Most home buyers consider it as an important parameter in their decision making on choosing where to live. In 2021, almost 70% home buyers considered walkability as an “extremely important” characteristic in the locality they chose.
Ask yourself how much driving you want to do, and whether you really want to own a car or not. Whether you’re single or moving with a large family, consider this first. Owning a car opens your options to suburbs and rural areas, but you’ll want to weigh the costs of car ownership.
If you choose a neighborhood with high walkability, then it has greater financial prospects than you might have thought of. It can reduce your transportation costs by a lot. Alternative transportation options like shared cabs or public transportation, may allow you to further minimize your car expenses.
With active savings on your transportation, you can allot the amount to your budget to afford some of your must-haves. City centres mostly have better public transport and walkability. So it’s a win-win.
But the most important aspect of walkability is to figure out how far are some of the essential services. How far is the nearest bus stop? Are there any grocery stores close by? How far is the nearest hospital? Are there any food joints and malls close by? Is your office at a walkable distance? Do you friends and family stay close by? Does the area have any parks or pedestrian for walking? Is the sidewalk too crowded at all the times? All these questions are the reason why walkability is such an important parameter.
3. Commute
While walkability to close by destinations may not be that big of a deal, your proximity to school, college or work is an entirely different case. More than 60% home buyers considered their commute to be an equally important parameter, if not more than walkability. It is essential that your neighborhood has an easy access to most parts of the city for efficient commute.
The proximity of your neighborhood to a location that you’ll be commuting to on a regular basis should be checked. You can quickly estimate your commute time by using Google maps to find the best possible location. Try the maps with both no traffic and rush-hour conditions. This will give you a better understanding of whether the location will be a good choice or not. Choose a neighborhood that has plenty of options for commute.
Check out Yash Greens for a neighborhood with best location in Dehradun.
4. Green Spaces
Exposure to nature and green spaces has a ton of health benefits to offer. This has been backed by a number of studies. More importantly, staying in touch with nature has increased calming effect on your mental well-being. Research suggests that the availability of green spaces is associated with greater neighborhood satisfaction. Furthermore, if you have pets, you’ll require open and green spaces for them to enjoy as well. So make sure that you choose a neighborhood that resembles an actual jungle and not one concrete that of concrete.
5. Sense of Community
We are social animals. A sense of community or belonging is something that brings us happiness and peace. Naturally, people prefer a neighborhood that makes them feel like a part of a community. Beyond friends and family, community is one way to socially connect with people from all walks of life.
Some studies indicate that even a sense of social connection can enhance your motivation and help you achieve your goals. You are more likely to get things done when you feel connected to people. It is always better to have someone around in good and bad times. Choose a neighborhood that gives you a sense of belonging.
6. Recreation
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Or for that matter, makes Jill a dull girl. It is necessary to have fun every now and then to lead happier lives. Many people find happiness in certain recreational activities like sports, art, music, literature and so much more. These interests could be something that you do for a living, or something that you are passionate about.
If you are an avid reader and there’s a book club in your neighborhood, nothing like it! If you’re into art and there’s a gallery nearby, nothing like it! If you’re a movie fanatic and there a multiplex nearby, nothing like it. You get the point.
Now it’s up to you. Go on and visit the neighborhood that you like. Go through all the pointers with due diligence and see whether the locality is a perfect fit for you or not. Looking up things online can be easy, but we’d recommend you to visit all the places in person and get a feel of it. You must choose a neighborhood that makes you feel alive.
Experiment! Go for a quick ride, crab a coffee and sit in the park. Check whether the experience is immersive or not. Experience how it feels to be a part of that community. You’ll have all your questions answered once you follow this guide.
Check out the residential projects section on Address India’s website to choose a suitable house with the right neighborhood.