How to buy a house in a great location

Buying a house can be one of the biggest decisions in anyone’s life, especially for first-time buyers who have only just decided that they want to make their mark on the property ladder. Although there are so many factors to consider when buying a home and settling your mortgage, you first need to identify your needs; and buying a home in a prime location is usually one of them.

We’ve put together a buyer’s guide on how to find a home in a great location that suits you.

Research the area

If you’re looking for a property within a specific area that you are particularly unfamiliar with then do a little research so that you can discover everything about that specific neighbourhood.

You can use Zoopla.co.uk to do all the hard work, a property portal who previously acquired UpMyStreet – a website dedicated to providing people with information about a specific neighbourhood.

You can also use their local area stats page for further details: http://www.zoopla.co.uk/market/uk/. Use this to identify an area that suits your budget, before deciding on whether the area can cater for your needs.

Get to know the area

There’s nothing more effective about learning about a particular area then visiting it at different times in the day. Although the area may seem incredibly peaceful during the day, it could turn into a nightlife hotspot as the days darken, which is why it may be a good idea to visit the area during different days of the week and at different times too.

High streets hints

If the property you are interested is located near a high street that features plenty of shops, cafes and estate agents then this may suggest that it’s quite a thriving area. Although it’s great to have an extensive range of amenities nearby, this probably means house prices could be quite hefty.

You may need to compromise on house size if you’re keen to have these benefits.

Supermarkets, shops and transport

Are there are large supermarkets nearby? There could be some local stores within reach but you’ll need to plan on how you’ll do your food shopping if there are no supermarkets in sight.

If you don’t drive then you’ll need to figure out whether the area has plenty of public transport links. Are there frequent buses available? Is there a train station nearby?

Local schools

If you’re moving with a little one or then you’ll research into the local schools. Check Ofsted inspection reports http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/ or visit pay a visit to the local schools instead.

If you (or someone you are moving in with) are considering attending university then it could be a good idea to see whether there are any good universities in the area.