They say moving can be as stressful as dealing with a family illness. And that’s just for moves that are within your local area. Moving across the country, to a town or city you are unfamiliar with – it’s probably something you would like to avoid. Yet, this is something that many Canadians have to do, particularly in recessionary times like this, when moving to find a job may become necessary.
Image: Rene Ehrhardt / Flickr
The most important thing to do – and probably the most obvious – is to get organized. Start out by talking to a real estate professional. They will help guide you through the process, and if you need to, they can help put you in contact with a real estate professional in the market you are moving to. They will also help you start thinking about what sort of questions you should be asking, and what you should be careful of.
At the same time, start writing down a list of things you need to find out. Some things to start thinking about are the following:
1. What are home prices like in the market you are moving to? Will you have to pay more or less for a home that is a similar size to the one you are currently living in?
2. Are you moving to a safe area? Without any context, you might choose a place that is in a higher crime area without knowing it is.
3. Aside from crime, what is the community like? What about the amenities, like community centres, libraries and schools? Is the area gentrifying or becoming seedy? It might be better to buy in an area that is perceived to be run-down but is on the way up so that you can take advantage of the rising property values.
4. Are there any negative environmental factors, such as noise or smells? It may not be visible on a map, but the area you are looking at might be notorious for industrial smells like sulphur, or have loud passing trucks in the early morning.
5. Can you get public transportation from your new home? What will the parking be like? Is traffic an issue? And how long will your commute be?
6. If you are moving for work with a spouse or partner, make sure that jobs will be available for them, too.
Some of these questions will be impossible to answer without visiting the potential site of your new house. Walking around your new neighbourhood and asking local people simple questions like, “Is this neighbourhood safe?” can be a lot more accurate than any research you can uncover. It can also give you a real idea of how far away the grocery store is, and where the nearest parks are.
If visiting the house in person is impossible, check out the community online. See if there is an online community newspaper or local forum where residents talk about issues in their community. Take a trip through your new neighbourhood on Google Street View. Look up local crime statistics, if possible. Try to find out the history of the area. See if the area was previously for other uses such as industry or agriculture. Look up any information on the area’s zoning.
In other words: do your homework. Your real estate agent can help you through these processes, but it is up to you to make sure you are fully informed about all the issues. And good luck!
Nelson Goulart
Broker of Record with Signature Service GMAC Real Estate
www.ssgmac.ca
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