Technical > Home Improvement > Picking location to buy a house

Picking location to buy a house

In the past, I have Googled particular towns/cities and found the demographic information. There's usually one site that contains most of the information you're seeking. Look particularly at .org or .gov sites.
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Keep your eye on the ball, your shoulder to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone, and your ear to the ground. Now, try to work in that position!!!

reply to Dodge
Can you get broadband (Fios/Cable) ?

(My mantra is "Location, Location, Location, Fios/Broadband")

Sad, but true.
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Splat

reply to Dodge
Make your criteria for selecting location based on proximity to highways/grocery stores/malls etc.
Do you want to drive 30min to a Walmart or Target? If not draw desired distance circles around them. Do you want to drive 20min to the closest convenience store? Include in criteria...
Do you care about schools? Include that in list. Do you care about taxes? Include that in list. You'll end up with well defined areas in which you'll look.
Once you have the list of locations narrowed down get in your car and make a trip in the area. Seeing how the area looks like, how the houses are, what cars people have in the driveway, state of the lawn etc... will give you an immediate idea of the demographics, crime rates, etc.
Numbers are generally averaged on city or zip, you can have significantly different reality in a range of few blocks.

reply to Dodge
In addition to things mentioned - how is fire protection, garbage pickup etc. handled. Sewer or septic? Floodplain or sinkhole area? Aluminum or copper wiring? Are you absolutely sure you can get dependable high speed internet? Is there more than one entrance to subdivision? Also, if there is a HOA investigate it in depth to find out about dues and if you can live with it in general.

reply to Dodge
Its all about location.

Here in Dallas there are some great public schools. (not in Dallas DISD).

Or there are private schools that are even better. $$

If you are going to start a family it should be your 1st priority.

If you are loaded it won;t be hard,

Location

Location

reply to bkjohnson

reply to Dodge
Try this for general information:

»www.city-data.com/

This should answer most of your immediate questions about an area you are considering.

I'd also suggest that you use Google Earth and Streetview to fly over your prospective areas...very helpful.
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Don't ask questions -- just do as you're told.

reply to mityfowl

reply to Dodge
my dad always said, buy a brick house on a hill.

reply to Dodge

said by Dodge:

said by mityfowl:

Its all about location.

Here in Dallas there are some great public schools. (not in Dallas DISD).

Or there are private schools that are even better. $$

If you are going to start a family it should be your 1st priority.

If you are loaded it won;t be hard,

Location

Location

That's what I am trying to figure out, the location Here is an example that scares me. My friends bought a house several years ago. It's in an up and coming area, and their immediate neighborhood is great. However 3 blocks over is a let's call it a not so nice area. There are 3 options, status quo, nice area expands, bad area expands. I am trying to avoid having to deal with scenario 3 as much as not buying in a bad area initially.

reply to Dodge
Here is one people often forget you want a house north or east or north-east of where you work.

This will allow you to drive south or west away from the sun in the AM and away from the sun in the afternoon.

Makes for much safer less hassle driving.

Whats the point buying a nice house then have to gripe about driving into the sun all the time in the spring and fall?

And yes double check the house or where you are building is not on the flood plain, that you have a relatively low water table, etc. you do not want to have to worry about flooding or mold.

reply to Dodge
You haven't talked about children. That's the big deal for me.

reply to Dodge
You could use a reputable realtor to help you go over your criteria. Don't even know what your criteria is? The realtor can ask some probing questions to see what you think is important.
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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -MLK

reply to mityfowl

reply to Dodge
Let me ask you a few questions then.

How far down are you willing to narrow it down. You said "state". Which state are you in and do you require living in that state?

Do you have children?

Many states are rather large, so unless you live in Rhode Island, travel distance to your job is a rather big deal. I live in Pennsylvania, where it takes a solid 7-8 hours to drive from one side to the other and that's if you're taking the turnpike.
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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -MLK

Then, consider 'city' or 'county', railroads or airports nearby (noise level), weather considerations - hurricanes or floods, or tornadoes, or earthquakes, or high summer temps or freezing winter temps. Price of gas - some locations can be as low and others high depending partly on how close to fuel facilities. Type of heating/cooling options. Natural gas available to the house? Fishing and/or hunting allowed nearby? Does the state/city allow you to own guns w/o all kinds of restrictions. Good hospitals and docs close by?

And the list goes on -

Just don't try to find a perfect place as chances you'll end up a year later saying "I wish I had picked that other house instead" and that could eat your stomach up or give you headaches.

reply to Dodge
I'd move into an apartment with a 1 year lease, in which time you can do local shopping for a house and get to know the area.

Of course, I can imagine difficulties regarding this plan, such as too many things and kids.

reply to Dodge
There's no "one size fits all."

I wanted something on high elevation, quiet and I didn't mind being far from grocery stores etc.

But some people won't like if they are more than 5 minutes away from a grocery store. Me, not so much. I hate crowds and I hate having really close neighbors.