Home Buying Considerations for Young Families
There are few things more satisfying in my business than working with young families to find the right home. It is such an exciting time in their life and it is a pleasure to share in their joy and enthusiasm. Growing families do, however, have a unique set of concerns when it comes to home buying.
Location – In addition to finding a location that suits their budget, lifestyle and transportation access needs, parents of young children need to pay particular attention to things like busy roads and proximity to power lines. Young families choosing condo or townhouse living often want to know that there is a playground within walking distance of their home. In addition, working parents of young children need to take a careful look at their commute times. Long commutes that were once not a problem may no longer work with children in daycare or school.
Location – In addition to finding a location that suits their budget, lifestyle and transportation access needs, parents of young children need to pay particular attention to things like busy roads and proximity to power lines. Young families choosing condo or townhouse living often want to know that there is a playground within walking distance of their home. In addition, working parents of young children need to take a careful look at their commute times. Long commutes that were once not a problem may no longer work with children in daycare or school.
Schools – Although all residents of a neighbourhood benefit from the presence of quality schools, it is, of course, an especially powerful draw for parents of school age children.
The Fraser Institute provides online information and rankings of all Canadian schools and is a great source. When checking out the local schools, parents of pre-school and elementary school children should also take a look at the secondary schools to assure themselves that the local schools will continue to fit the children’s needs as they grow.
The Fraser Institute provides online information and rankings of all Canadian schools and is a great source. When checking out the local schools, parents of pre-school and elementary school children should also take a look at the secondary schools to assure themselves that the local schools will continue to fit the children’s needs as they grow.
Safety – Safety for young children begins in the home. Parents are well-advised to consider the possible downside of aesthetically pleasing but potentially dangerous features such as spiral staircases, marble bathrooms and glass block walls. Peeling house paint, open fire pits and unfenced yards in heavily-trafficked neighbourhoods are exterior home items that pose possible safety concerns for young families. When it comes to the neighbourhood itself, in addition to researching crime statistics, it pays to visit the community at varying times of the day and night to ensure that the home is located in an area where buyers will feel comfortable and safe while raising their children.
Financial Stability – This holds true for everyone, of course, but parents of young children must be particularly attentive to their financial situation. Little people are depending on them for everything and the last thing they need to happen is to get in over their head and end up house poor, or worse. When planning for a home purchase, buyers should anticipate the impact of economic downturns, loss of a job or birth of another child on the family’s financial situation, and budget accordingly.
Resale Potential – Absent a crystal ball, there is no way to know for sure which neighbourhoods and homes will appreciate in value as the years go by. If you consider the home you are buying to be a starter home for you and your family and one which you are likely to outgrow in a few years, pay special attention to the home’s resale potential. Your Realtor can help you with this, but, in general, homes that are well-maintained and a good match in terms of size and price with other homes in the neighbourhood are excellent choices for retail potential.
Whether it is a starter home or a dream home, the home where you raise your children will be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. Choose carefully and start building the memories that will last a lifetime.
Are you buying or selling a home in Calgary? Do you want an agent who has the enthusiasm and energy to get things done, with your best interests in mind at all times? Contact me at 403-617-8758, kelmacdonald@gmail.com or www.kellymacdonald.ca and let's make good things happen!
About Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald is a Realtor® with The Real Estate Company in Calgary, where she has been living (and loving it!) since she was 10. Kelly offers her clients a unique mix of youthful vigor, creativity and technical and design savvy on one hand, and professionalism and transactional expertise from her business degree and strong administrative background on the other. Kelly is also a devoted wife and mother of two, with whom she finds time from her busy schedule to play scrabble and walk by the beautiful lake of their home in Southeast Calgary.
THIS ENTRY WAS POSTED ON January 31st, 2016 BY Kelly L. Macdonald | POSTED IN General
