Finding a neighbourhood is as important as deciding on a home or apartment to live in, just as houses are like spouses, a neighbourhood is like the extended family. A good neighbourhood begins with finding an ideal home with beautiful surroundings where loving memories are shared with neighbours within the community.

Whether you’re buying an apartment to live in or for investment purposes it is important to pay close attention to the neighbourhood that suits your individual needs and interest. Here are some factors to consider:

Prioritize

The first step is defining what you need most from a neighbourhood. Are you single and looking to reside in an area with cool relaxation spots where lots of young adults visit, or married with kids and want schools and daycare centres for your kids, Is your workplace located close to home, Does the amenities such as shopping malls, hospitals, banks, parks and play spaces offer a community experience that meets your needs? Once you’ve answered these questions, you can start narrowing down your search area to specific locations that meet your needs and give you easy access to the places you visit the most.

Research

Once you’ve decided what neighbourhood qualities are most important to you, start searching for the areas that best fit your criteria. Most time the best way to research a neighbourhood is to ask residents, friends or family members who live in the area what they love or dislike about the location. Bear in mind that people tend to have a very different opinion of what constitutes a great place to live. Read online and make out time to visit the location to see what it feels like to live in such a location.

Property Value

Property value and trends aren’t so important if you are renting, but if you’re planning to invest for keeps, it is crucial to consider property trends. This will help you determine whether home prices in the neighbourhood are going up, remaining consistent, or trending downwards—all of which is necessary to know for making a smart investment. You can learn a lot about the history and the potential of a neighbourhood from examining how its housing prices have risen or fallen over time.

Observe the neighbourhood at different times of the day

Drive through during the day and night to get a snapshot of what it feels like to reside in such a location. Are the streets well-lit at night, how is the power supply, do the roads turn into heavy traffic after school or during rush hour. These visual clues can help you decide if you’ll fit in.

Once you have made up your mind, Get to know your neighbours, visit local vendors and take advantage of the perfect area you chose.