Choosing a Neighbourhood
When choosing a neighborhood for your next move, two things to consider are whether it has safe, pleasant streets, and a mix of homes, shops and offices.
When it comes to choosing your next home , perhaps the biggest question is deciding where you want to live. Whether it's old or new, urban or suburban, in a big city or a small town, the neighborhood you live in will affect your quality of life, affordability and the environment for years to come.
To help you select your next neighborhood, start by looking for some of the following features:
A VILLAGE ATMOSPHERE Does it have safe, pleasant streets for walking, meeting the neighbors, or where your children can play safely?
VALUE FOR THE MONEY Consider long-term expenses, such as the energy savings that a smaller house with shared walls, like a townhouse , can bring, or living where you only need one car, or none at all.
A SAFE, ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD A mix of homes, shops and offices means that the neighborhood is active throughout the day and evening, allowing people to look out for each other. This is also a neighborhood where cars move slowly.
A PLACE WHERE DAILY TRIPS CAN BE MADE ON FOOT, BIKE OR BUS Living where work, schools, shopping and recreation are close enough to walk, ride your bike or take the bus to can mean spending less time in traffic, not to mention being good for your health and pocketbook! Less car use is also better for air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT PRESERVES THE COUNTRYSIDE When land in the neighborhood is used efficiently, rural and natural areas outside it are preserved and costs to preserve its service are lower.
A NEIGHBORHOOD YOU CAN STAY IN, YEAR AFTER YEAR A neighborhood with a wide variety of homes lets you stay close to where you've put down roots, even as your age, income, family and housing needs change.
To determine whether your next neighborhood meets these and other criteria, try asking yourself a few simple questions, including :
>> Can I use my car less or not at all ?
>> Can I save money in the long term by living here ?
>> Could I stay in the neighborhood if my housing needs change ?
>> Is it easy to get to know my neighbors and local shopkeepers ?
>> Is it a safe, pleasant place to walk ?
>> Have natural areas in the neighborhood been preserved ?
>> Is land used efficiently ?