We've all heard the term, "location location location". Choosing your home's location is just as important as choosing the home itself. Here are four of the top tips to help you decide on the best location.
The City, Town, or community- Before you pick out a house, the first thing to do is choose what cities or communities you would like to live in. There are many different factors that come into play, not only for yourself, but for resale value as well. Carefully choosing your community is the first step in "location, location, location" and can help maximize your future potential resale value.
Property Taxes always seem to be a consideration and in most cities, you'll notice that taxes are higher than in surrounding towns. The city, as a hub, usuallly provides more services than towns do, and have bigger government, and someone has to pay for it- that means the homeowners. If you like the services that a city has to offer, and the higher taxes aren't a deterrent. But remember, you will lose some of the buyer pool on resale if your taxes are considered too high.
The bonus is that the "cost per square foot" of homes is most often lower in cities that have higher property taxes. This is something that you will need to weigh in your decision
The School System- Even if you do not have school-age children and do not intend to have children, you must pay attention to the local school system. That is because when you sell the property, many of your potential buyers will be concerned about it. have concerns of this nature. Check to see how local students score on the standardized tests and as I mentioned in a prior post, the state of Connecticut mandates that ecah of its 169 towns and cities educational system report on each individual school.. The better the school system, the better the resale. It has always been that way.
Economic Stability and Local Government- When choosing a town or community for your home buying purchase, look to buy in a city or town with a stable economy. When you want to sell your home in the future, there should be a reasonable expectation that your town will still be a desirable place to live. A good idea is to drive around that community, and see how well it is maintained. .Services provided by the local government are in important factor, too, such as community centers and libraries. You can obtain crime statistics by going to the police station and simply asking for them. The local EMS should also have their response times on record for you as well
I would be happy to answer any questions that I can about your new community, and what I don't know, I can find out readily. All my clients have to do is ask!