When it comes to buying a home, we spend a lot of time investigating the house, but not always enough time researching the suburb. Your dream suburb, with tree-lined streets and picturesque views, may be beautiful to look at, but is it right for you? We've put together some important factors to consider when choosing a suburb that's right for you.
School zones
Even if you don't have kids, finding a house in a reputable school zone is a valuable investment. Suburbs with highly regarded primary schools and even more so, high schools, are highly desired by parents around the country. This means the value of homes in that area are likely to increase over time. If you already have children, or plan to in the future, you'll also put yourself in a favorable position to find a great school when the time comes. Your future self will be thanking you.
Local services
Choosing a suburb to live in also means choosing all your local services, and how far away they are. Does the suburb have a nearby supermarket, medical clinic and even a dog park? How far do you have to drive to get to them? What's better is having local amenities that are in walking distance, so that moment when you realise 10 minutes before the shops close that you forgot to buy eggs for your Christmas Day Pavlova won't be so stressful.
Public transport
If you rely on public transport to get yourself to work or your kids to school, make sure to look into what's available in the area you're looking at before purchasing. Check out how many stops are near you and even how often your preferred bus/train/tram comes. Having a stop at your doorstep that only comes once every hour might not be as convenient as it seems.
Crime rates
When you buy a house, you're not only buying a roof over your head, you're also buying your safety and security. And even with alarms and security cameras installed, there's always a sense of unease when you hear about crime in your area. Before committing to a suburb, check out your local police website to get a summary of crime in each suburb. If your suburb of interest has had more crime reported than most, have a think about whether this is something you feel comfortable with.
Location, location, location
Another important factor to consider when researching a potential new suburb is travel time. The suburb of your dreams may offer great lifestyle appeal but how long does it take you to get to work, your friends and your family? Consider the value of your time and whether the positive aspects of the suburb outweigh the additional time you'll spend behind the wheel or sitting on public transport.
Planned infrastructure
Future planned infrastructure or council investment might be a sign of an up and coming suburb, particularly for those looking to invest. Check out council websites and government transport organisations to see if anything is being planned in your local area. A suburb may not seem bustling initially, but you never know, a big shopping centre or lots of new eateries may be on the way.
The perfect suburb may not exist, but with a bit of research you will find something that is right for you. Take a drive around local suburbs before making a decision and even go for a walk around the streets. If you have friends or family that live there or nearby, even better! Ask them what they like and dislike about the area, but remember, factors that are important to one person may be different to others.
