Sizing up your new neighbourhood

Sizing up your new neighbourhood  

Buying a home can be a confusing and even overwhelming experience.  One of the best ways to take the mystery out of the process is with good information.   When you’re looking for the right home, your success can often depend on knowing what questions to ask – not just about a prospective property, but also about the surrounding community.  Here are some questions that can help you size up a neighbourhood before you decide to make an offer on a property:

• What other homes in my price range are currently listed for sale in this community?
• How affordable is this housing compared with other nearby markets?
• Where are schools and other amenities located?
• What age groups are predominant in the community?
• What is the average household income of the residents?  
• What is the level of education of the residents?
• What is the employment rate or future job prospects in the community?
• Where can I find more specialized information about this community?

These questions can help you to develop an in-depth community profile.  But now that you know what the questions are, where do you go to find the answers?  Your local Realtor® is a great point of contact for real estate information, whether its about an entire community, a neighborhood, or even your own street.  They can provide you with comprehensive and up-to-date pricing information and housing options in your target market and help you select a community that best suits your family’s needs and lifestyle.  If you prefer to web surf for your facts, the answers to these and other home buying questions are just a mouse click away at www.coldwellbanker.com and www.tomflatt.com .  There’s a wealth of consumer-friendly buyer tools and resources to help you evaluate and compare properties.  You’ll also find thousands of listings from communities across Canada and all around the world.

Why not logon to www.coldwellbanker.com or visit www.tomflatt.com and use our community profile information to your best advantage?   And when you decide it’s time for a one-on-one conversation or taking a first-hand look at some property, you can also find contact information on the site to put you in touch me.  Call me and let’s talk real estate.  You’ll be glad you called me first!