With housing affordability still challenging many buyers, some people may feel that price must take precedence when making a purchase decision. As long as you are within close proximity to where you need to be, whether it be your job, school, or other family members, your exact whereabouts within city limits may not be the priority. However, location does matter. Once you move in, you may realize all the cons of your neighbourhood: not walkable, no parks, minimal access to transportation, can’t carry my groceries 30 minutes by foot, the list goes on.&nbsp; Today, we will be discussing some of the boxes you may want to check off when looking for a place to live.&nbsp;As mentioned above, your only criteria for a potential property may be its reasonable proximity to school or work. This may look different for everyone: some may need to walk, rely on public transportation, or can drive themselves in. This all depends on the type of city you live in. Living in a place like Toronto, if you or your children attend university, whether you can make it to an exam on time matters. If you think living in Mississauga, for example, will fit your commuting style, then that may be a fine location for you. The bustling city is not for everyone.&nbsp;This brings us to another topic: should you live in rural or urban areas. The choice largely depends on your job and commuting options. The average sold home price in Toronto is $1,195,180. The average house price in more rural New Tecumseth, northeastern GTA, is $841,022. Even staying outside of Toronto to commute from a place like Oshawa will save you money, with the average price sold being $782,227. Etobicoke North has also experienced some decrease in house prices, down 5.6% from last year, with the current average selling price at $726,402. So, if city life does not accommodate you and your family, a suburban lifestyle with a reasonable commute may be the best choice.&nbsp;Another important consideration is crime rates. When moving alone, with roommates, or with a family, you won’t regret the extra research to keep yourself safe. The BREL Team has an article showing some GTA neighbourhoods ranked by highest incidents. <a href="about:blank">https://www.getwhatyouwant.ca/how-safe-is-your-toronto-neighbourhood</a> . They show assaults, shootings, break and enters, robberies, auto thefts, and theft over $5000. In addition, if you choose a place where you must rely on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to get around, you should be extra careful. Reports of violent attacks occurring on TTC platforms and stations has increased heavily. Several victims, mostly female, have been pushed onto platforms, assaulted, shot, stabbed, and even set on fire. BlogTO quotes a twitter user, @tariwngoda, saying “I was going to move to Toronto but violence on TTC stories are starting to scare me.” The TTC stated they do not have the resources to place security workers at each station, leaving TTC users unsatisfied. All this said, having a walkable area may be the best course of action for you, especially if you are going to be commuting alone or at night.&nbsp;Finally, lifestyle factors are important for considering location. If you are a gym rat, possibly a 24-hour gym close by will best suit you. If you value nature, staying away from the innermost parts of the city, or the entire city, may benefit you. If you have children, which neighbourhoods have the best school, a school close to your work, or a school with daycare services? Will your children have to find their own way home on foot or will they be in for a long bus ride? All of these little details matter. Though they may seem swept under the rug because of scary house prices, you should not lose sight of the things that matter to you in an ideal home.&nbsp;

Location, Location, Location: the Key Factor for Buying a Home

With housing affordability remaining a challenge, buyers think price must take precedence when making a buying decision. However, location does matter.

About RIFO

Business

Investors

News

Contact Us

Contact Us