Six ways the location of your house will impact your life

If faced with a tradeoff between a nicer home or a better location, which would you choose? Before you answer, consider these ways location affects the way you live:

How long are you willing to sit in your car?
You might be able to buy a bigger, nicer home by adding 20 minutes each way to your daily commute, but understand that you'll be spending 14 additional hours behind the wheel every month. Don't forget the additional gas and maintenance costs, too.

How frequently do you want to engage in your favorite activities?
Whether your most-cherished pastime is shopping, playing tennis, hanging out with friends, or taking your dog to the park, you're likely to do more of it when you have easy access.

Ready to keep up with your neighbors?
Moving to a neighborhood means buying into a lifestyle. You're not required to keep up with the Jonses, but it's difficult to suppress your consumer instincts when the people next door drive better cars, take nicer vacations, and purchase the latest high-end appliances.

Speaking of neighbors ...
Do you enjoy constant interaction with people, or do you like a bit more privacy? Your preference might point you toward a high-rise condo, a ranch, or something in between.

Do nearby schools make the grade?
If you have school-age kids (or plan to), you'll want them to attend good schools. Even if you don't have kids, the quality of nearby schools can affect property values.

What's with that noise/smell/view?
Vehicle or air traffic may not bother you in the least. Or it may drive you nuts. Same goes for other nearby sensory stimuli. Make sure you know what you can easily tolerate and what you want to avoid at all costs. 

You may also want to assess neighborhood safety, access to public transportation, and other aspects of location. A Texas REALTOR® can help you find a home based on the criteria important to you, so you not only wind up in a nice house but in a good location, too. 

03/21/2014 Author: Marty Kramer