Choosing where to live is more complex than one may think and requires careful consideration. Here are some things that could affect your choice.
- Available social amenities
Before deciding whether to live in a particular location, you must look at the available social amenities. Great neighborhoods should have all essential amenities situated within an accessible distance. That will make it easy for you to run necessary errands and make crucial visits, like going for a hospital check-up or picking up groceries at the market. Otherwise, you will need to commute to another location to access essential services, which can be inconvenient.
- Secure neighborhood
Choosing a safe place to live in would be best as you look for a house to rent or buy. Safety applies to your belongings as well as your physical well-being. A secure area has adequate access to security companies, police stations, and rapid access to emergency services in the event of an attack. The site should also have hospitals that provide emergency services and an excellent traffic control system. Unsafe neighborhoods tend to be very stressful and have expensive house insurance.
- Market demand
Demand is one of the most decisive factors affecting the value of your home. It will also alter things like the price of rent and even the price of household goods. When evaluating a particular location, you must consider how long you plan to live in one area. If you are staying for a couple of years, choosing a location with growing demand will increase the value of your home over time. Simultaneously, it could mean that the cost of living grows and household items become more expensive.
- Development rules
If you plan on buying your home, look at the development rules governing that location before making the purchase. Many buyers tend to look for homes with larger pieces of land that they can develop to create another source of income. For example, your plan may be to build some apartments and earn rental income. If that is the case, make sure that the rules do not place any restrictions on apartment buildings.
- Income
Before you move, look at your income sources and ensure that you can live in your location of choice with relative ease. Some neighborhoods are more expensive than others and require you to spend more on household expenses like rent and utility bills. If you can afford to live there sustainably, then you can move. If not, look for alternatives that offer the same benefits at a lower cost.
- Work obligations
Living close to where they work is not a key factor for some professionals because they can work from home and commute to work only a few times a week. On the other hand, some workers have to choose between expensive homes close to their place of work or a more affordable location with a longer commute. Evaluate your work obligations before you decide where you want to move. Remember that you must pay more to avoid a long commute, especially in a large city. Alternatively, use a listing website such as Hauzisha to find a home in a nearby, relatively affordable location like Syokimau in Kenya.
- Projected development
You may be tempted to move somewhere because the neighborhood is growing fast, and you want to be part of the trend. However, before you move, have a professional evaluate the projected growth rate in that area. Some popular residential areas grew and then stagnated because their development was not sustainable. It would be best if you moved to a place with clear plans to continue expanding and in an organized way. That way, you will not suffer the negative consequences of poor planning in the future.
- Surrounding culture
The area you live in will also have its unique culture and social practices that the residents adhere to. It is even entirely possible that the site is made up of religious folk. All these social conditions will affect your life in that place because you will assimilate into the social culture. The residents are mainly closed off in some areas with very little external influence. Such tightly-knit communities may form close relations but offer limited growth and expansion opportunities.
- Lot location
While a location may be attractive, you must also look where the property is situated. Look for characteristics like good drainage, which is essential when it rains, and you want to avoid any flooding in the house. You should also pick a lot in a quiet area. For instance, living at a junction is bad since it exposes you tomuch noise from road traffic. Such an environment would make it hard to sleep peacefully at night.
- Lifestyle
Your place of choice will also be affected by your current and projected lifestyles. You look at this factor in two ways. One, expensive neighborhoods come with certain implications should you choose to buy or rent a home in the area. You will need a vehicle for your vehicles because public transport services tend to be limited or absent. Another way to look at it is in terms of your social life and hobbies. Urban areas are perfect for younger and social inhabitants who would thrive in a location with restaurants and clubs.
- Family members
Finally, you will need to consider what your family members prefer before you decide on the location. First, the neighborhood needs to be a great place to raise kids if you have a family. Suburbs are great environments for this exact purpose. They are relatively quiet and have all the basic facilities to live a full life without going into the city. Other family considerations to make include the schools your family members attend. Ensure you choose to live close by to avoid an exhausting commute.
The location you reside in will be affected by factors like your place of work, your sources of income, and even personal preferences. Consider the above factors concerning the particular neighborhood and pick the best choice.