A good friend of mine has been house hunting for the past little while and she often sends me the listings for certain properties she has found so I can live vicariously through her real estate ventures. One thing that studying these listings has reminded me of is the importance of a good location when choosing a place to live/buy.
I know, I know, there are a lot of practical factors mitigating exactly where one can live. There are certainly a few select 'choice' neighborhoods in Edmonton (I'm sure this is similar to other cities) where the houses are beautiful and located in very desirable parts of the city. These properties are usually very expensive and not particularly accessible to first time buyers.
Even so, location is worth the investment! Or, at least that's what Don and I think. This explains why we went through the pains of moving this past September... only 26 blocks north. Sure, now we own two properties (we have rented the other one out) and we have to do the whole renovating house-fix-up stuff all over again. Don't be fooled, this is a huge time commitment. Awesome neighborhoods usually mean older houses. Older houses, despite having wonderful character, need a lot of work. Add this to the Don & Sarah life of being ridiculously busy and you have a recipe for spending most any free time doing stuff to the house or feeling guilty that you're NOT doing stuff to the house.
Why go through all this pain and suffering? Because living in a fantastic neighborhood close to everything is unspeakably excellent... and is absolutely worth every last bead of sweat! Our old 'hood was great too and nothing to complain about. The LRT is due to open there in another year or so, and it was really well connected to good cycling routes, the freeway, and other cool amenities. Plus, our neighbors were awesome (but so are our new ones). Our new place is in ridiculous proximity to the river valley, city parks, and 15 minutes closer (by bike) to all our usual haunts. To be honest, I get less exercise now because my bike rides are shorter. Also, our train station is opening this April.
This brings me to my point. Of course one can only purchase within what the bank says is possible, but keeping that in mind, location is key. Nobody wants to have to sink a ridiculous amount of money into a place that is falling apart, however, it's not smart to buy a place that requires around 1-2 hours in a car commuting to work each day. I just don't see how that is fun... or a good way to spend my time. Even if you're on the bus for a while getting to and from work. At least you can read or listen to some tunes or do some email. Living somewhere where the bus is effective or close to bike routes gives one a lot of options. I implore people to get over needing a brand 'new' house (narrow lots, no sidewalks, no schools, no fire station, no library...) and consider buying something pre-loved in the core of the city. Sure, looks matter. But as long as things are structurally sound, the cosmetics parts can be altered over time.
Buying a property for the investment value and location are smart things to do if possible. It contributes to a more vibrant lifestyle that doesn't necessarily have the prerequisite of an automobile. Urbran sprawl in Edmonton is pretty bad... but people still have this hunger for having a place that is 'new'. I'll admit I'm not a very understanding individual when it comes to being sympathetic about living somewhere so car oriented. It's not sustainable!
7 comments:
Dude I am so with you on this. I find it SO frustrating that for so many people the main criteria for house buying is how big a house they can get for their money. Forget that the large house is often unecessary, usually unsustainable, and generally near nothing (meaning total car dependence). I have a hard time coming up with sympathy for people conciously choosing to situate themselves in car dependence.
I've been wondering lately what all those people are doing to prepare themselves for future high gas prices? Are they using this reprive to adjust their life or are they just continuing on same-old and will cry foul when gas prices skyrocket again?
Well said. I made sure when looking for a condo that it was no further than four blocks from the el (subway). I love my neighborhood and the (literally) hundreds of bars and restaurants within a mile or two radius.
Yes, looks matter. And older houses are much nicer looking than new ones! New ones have no personality and are all plasticky looking. I hope to buy a house constructed in the 1950s at the very latest (ideally 1920s-1940s).
I can't believe people who are willing to live in neighbourhoods with no sidewalks, or with sidewalks on only one side of the street. And I can't believe that municipalities don't insist on sidewalks.
I am not yet a homeowner but when choosing an apartment to rent, it was crucial to me to find a place in an walkable neighbourhood, with good links to public transit, not too far from downtown, and with a supermarket within walking distance.
(in response to burrito) I have no issue with paying high gas prices.......... but i also won't complain when they are low cuz i get benefit as well. Actually living in alberta you want high gas prices cuz that's what drives the economy. Alberta's strength the last decade has been because of high gas prices, it probably relates to keeping you employed and also allows the province to help with the bill for some of the major public projects in the city. It's one thing to knock something that's not environmentally friendly but why don't we turn down money from the fed's/province for city infrastructure? One would think that some of the funds must come from the energy sector........ (not to mention taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and dare i say gambling??)
Furthermore if one wants to buy a big house on the outskirts and gas guzzling car to get to work, it's not one's right to pass judgement o say its wrong? No one should be able to tell you how you can and can't spend your $$$.
I'm not supporting either one of these lifestyles but I do believe that you can only control what YOU do yourself, as long as your happy with the choices you make, let other make their own choices.
until next time .....nuff said
Hey Burrito & anon!
I absolutely get where both of you are coming from, there are so many relative factors that determine the choices we all make in terms of lifestyle. I'll admit to being critical of others (duh, I have a blog where I rant about this stuff), but my qualms don't start with the individual.
Rather, I find a lot of people are put into situations due to city infrastructure, due to cost of living, due to a lot of things - that contribute to the choices we make. In Edmonton, it's HARD to buy a house that might fit everybody's needs that is in a good location. Also, it's just not affordable for everybody. Alberta's two main cities (Edmonton & Calgary) have really been designed poorly and it's sort of too late. I don't believe people really sit around consciously deciding to contribute to climate change. But, the way transportation is marketed, the way cities keep sprawling outwards, and the way people choose to live are largely learned behaviours. We're conditioned (as Albertans, in general) to feel entitled. Frankly, we're also encouraged to live unsustainably.
Change can start with the individual, but I agree that mass change isn't going to occur unless it's from the top down. In order for people to not drive as much, it's just going to have to one day become a reality that it's too expensive. Those who want to keep paying for something finite can choose to do so. And one day, sooner or later, more and more people (I hope) will be hopping on a bike, carpooling, or getting a bus pass:)
Government arm twisting... GO!
Dottie,
I'm so jealous of the location of your condo! Also, Don and I were totally planning to come visit Chicago this spring break, but evidently international travel at 32 weeks pregnancy is frowned upon and uh, just not permitted. So sad! We're going to Ottawa and Toronto instead here in Canada. I'll be sure to get in touch so you can give me all the insider info when we DO go... hopefully next year?
S*
Montrealer,
Oh, you're totally speaking my language! Don and I are huge mid century modern design dorks. Our old bungalow was 1964 (with wicked teak built-ins in perfect condition and lots of original light fixtures). The new-old bungalow we've recently moved to is 1951-54. We really love bungalows because of the high ceilings and big loft-like rooms. Don is 6"4 and doesn't prefer pre-war because of the small rooms.
Character, however, is key. I'll even get excited about little sandstone bricks on a planter so long as it's still beautiful and original:)
S*
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