They say, "Don't buy the house… buy the neighbourhood!"

So, what makes a good neighbourhood? Seeff weighs in…

These days it is all about lifestyle and convenience when it comes to choosing a home. Where your home is located can be as important as the house itself when it comes to buying. Your neighbourhood needs to meet your lifestyle needs if you are going to have a happy home.

So, what makes a good neighbourhood? Seeff weighs in with some advice on what to look out for:

– with traffic becoming a real issue in almost every metro and town these days, you will want to check that you are moving to a neighbourhood that offers at least relative convenience to your place of work as well as to other commitments that you may have. You do not want to spend your days and especially weekends on the road.

– you will want to choose an area with a good transport network, especially if you are reliant on public transport. It is also advisable to investigate the peak hour transport trends in the area. Don’t just look at the neighbourhood on a Sunday, but check what happens with traffic during the busy week periods.

– while you may just be starting out in life, you need to think ahead about when the time comes that you want to start a family. You will want to choose an area where there are affordable childcare facilities and of course access to good schools. This is especially important since there is always competition for space and first option goes to local residents.

– while you do not necessarily want to be in a busy area with lots of commercial activity, you do want to be close to shops or at least have shops en-route from work for your daily necessities. Check also if there are other facilities that you may need in the area such as gymnasiums or sport clubs and places of worship.

– check what the property values are like in the area. Does the area have a history of good capital value growth? You would always want to invest in an area where your most valuable asset, your home will not just retain its value, but will grow in value.

– these days, you want to also have a bit of a look around and see who your neighbours are. If you are buying in a security complex, check the rules as well. You would not want to find out that you have no say about rowdy parties after you have already moved in.

– it is also important to decide if you want to live in a busy urban area or whether you prefer the tranquillity of the outer lying suburbs. The latter is often preferred by families as the houses tend to have more yard space and the neighbourhoods sometimes come with green belt areas or parks for walks and the odd picnic. Lifestyle estates have become a popular option for families looking for a secure area within which to enjoy the outdoors.

– you may also want to check whether there are green belt areas and parks in the neighbourhood or at least nearby, especially if you have dogs or enjoy walks, jogs or cycling. A dog and child friendly neighbourhood becomes very important the older your get.

– it is advisable to check up on the safety record of the area and whether there are community initiatives such as a Neighbourhood Watch that you can join and become part of the taking care of the community.