I’m sure we’ve all heard that location is probably THE single most important factor to consider, when buying a home.
Yet how many of us ignore this fundamental principal? The answer is more than you think! As a Realtor who has been in this business for many years, you’d be amazed at how many times I have this conversation with clients:
Me: “So, what area of town are you looking in?”
Client: “Uuuh, dunno!”
Me: “Well, at least give me a compass point…do you want north, south, west or east?”
Client: “Uuuh, somewhere not too far from schools, dining, shopping.”
Me: “That covers about 99% of all Vegas/Henderson communities…can we narrow it down?”
This dialogue can often go back and forth for ages!
So here’s the problem. For those of us who have lived here a while, we pretty much have clear-set ideas about where we like to live, but there are literally thousands of people moving to Vegas for the first time, who are absolutely clueless. When I moved here from England with my family a couple of years back, I also faced this problem, so perhaps I’m in a fairly unique position to offer some simple advice:
· Buy yourself a map and mark on it your place of work.
· Look to see where the nearest highways are (I15, 215 beltway etc.)
· Check out if there are any major urban communities or master plans nearby (Summerlin, Mountains Edge, Green Valley etc)
· If you have kids, check the school zoning by visiting the Clark County School District website www.CCSD.net
· Pick out a couple of subdivisions and spend a day or two driving the neighborhoods.
· Don’t be afraid of asking local residents and store owners what they think of the area.
· Visit the neighborhood at different times of the day and evening, and be aware of traffic congestion, street lighting, dogs barking, and any other factors which may enhance or destroy your quality of life.
· Make sure the prices of homes in a given area are within your comfort zone.
· Take into account that some areas charge Master Plan fees, SIDS or LIDS.
· Make sure you work with an experienced Realtor who has good local knowledge and knows his or her way around town.
And finally, remember this when buying a home. Changing flooring, upgrading kitchens, sprucing up the yard, or repainting, can easily be done. It’s just a question of time and money. But once you’ve selected a location, that’s it…you can’t pick up your home and move it to another neighborhood, so choose wisely!
