Step 2: Figure out where you want to live
Determining the best place to live based on your employment, a significant others employment, secondary and post-secondary education needs as well as recreation requirements for the family all play a large part. Some key factors to look at are:
- what new communities are being developed now, or are soon to be opening in your area and what they have to offer. Many developments are years in the making so with a little research you can see what might be coming soon and be at the lead of understanding who is building there and get in early.
- What amenities is the development going to offer, including important ones like schools. If your children are newborn or only a year or two it might be perfect as that new school may be scheduled to open just as your child reaches the age of requiring one and be first on the list because they live in the area. New school, new teachers, new approach to education can also be an exciting advantage. Others that have older kids may find new private school options or public transportation routes that will make it easier for them to attend post-secondary and still live at home, saving you money.
- Look at the transportation routes planned, will a route that now exists be changed or a large freeway interchange built that changes what part of the development you want to be in. Some City roads have been planned for 20 years or more, little research you will find out if you want to live close to a brand-new interchange planned two years from now or not.
- Shopping, what is planned? Is there day care? Seniors facilities and services? Even items like police stations and fire halls can be important to what the rating will be for insurance and your overall insurance costs in that community once you move in.
