How do I evaluate real estate locations?
Finding the best real estate location requires research. Once you locate the perfect real estate market then a qualified real estate professional can help you find the perfect property but how do you go about finding the best real estate cities or location to begin with?
There are several things a savvy real estate investor or home buyer can do to find top real estate locations.
1. Begin by narrowing down your search by using the U.S. Census Bureau State and County Quick Facts tool available at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html. With this tool you can find out the population, average age, percentage of home ownership, if the population is growing or declining and much more.
2. After narrowing down your choices, research the county and surrounding counties. Sometimes a few miles can make a big difference when it comes to taxes, impact fees, resale values and more.
3. Once you have located the ideal city, order a real estate guide from Homes and Land and use the free real estate agent locater tool.
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How do I find the best real estate locations?
The best real estate locations are those that never go out of style. Although the saying "location, location, location" is a commonly cited adage, few people realize that location can be impacted by demographics, fashion and fad. However, there are some "classics" that never go out of style in both fashion and real estate. While other trends may come and go, finding the best real estate areas requires an understanding of life-stages and human motivation. At each major life stage, there will always be buyers eager and willing to pay top dollar for a real estate property that fits their need. To find the best real estate locations follow the life-stage trends below:
First-time home buyer. The first-time home buyer is often in the early stages of his or her career and starting a family. Affordability & Access dominate the needs of this stage. An affordable home located within a convenient location of good schools and work will make this an ideal starter home for years to come. Small enhancements to the property can mean a lot to the first time home buyer who is often starting out with a limited budget.
Mature Middle Class Managers. These busy professionals are established in their careers and family life but place a premium on time savings, entertaining, comfort and the ability to care for aging parents or teenage children. Larger homes and Lifestyle is very important so community amenities such as recreation, parks, trails and shopping will appeal to this group as they attempt to juggle work and pleasure.
Fun and Family. Vacation homes never go out of style. Search for low maintenance homes surrounded by natural beauty or the heart of tourist attractions to find a premium real estate treasure.
Retirement. Down-sizing is a common theme for retirees who have spent a lifetime working and desire a maintenance free home that allows them the convenience and flexibility to pursue other interests. Comfortable, smaller homes with minimal to no maintenance are attractive to retirees. Day to day amenities and recreation such as golf, shopping, medical care and other services become important
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How do I pick the perfect golf course home?
Golf course homes are a wonderful investment and one of the most sought after locations in any community. As the popularity of the sport continues to grow, the decision to purchase golf course real estate can assist in increasing the resale value while allowing your home to appeal to a greater audience.
Use these quick tips to pick the perfect golf course community for your next premium real estate purchase:
- Decide if you would like an age restricted or multi-generational golf course. Younger families may find the availability of a community golf course a fun way to spend quality family time while the 55+ or more affluent home owner may prefer the amenities associated with an age restricted course.
- Determine your level of interest. If you are a sporadic golfer who enjoys the exercise or a friendly game of golf once in awhile then a general purpose golf course may more than meet your needs.
- Location Matters. Are you a seasonal golfer or is your idea of fun the ability to play golf year round? States like Florida, California and Nevada have golf course communities that cater to year round players in almost any city or metropolitan area. www.HomesandLand.com can help you locate a real estate agent who deals with golf course communities in your prospective area.
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What are the top appreciating markets in the nation?
Location, location, location. Yes, real estate really is about location. As one of the largest investments you will ever make, real estate is still a surprisingly confusing issue for most people. The majority of real estate buyers have little knowledge when it comes to the market or economic factors surrounding the purchase of a home. Consider location as an example; ask people where the best areas to buy are located and most don’t know. What states are gaining population? What states are losing people? What counties in each state are good or bad?
When comparing real estate locations or trying to find the best real estate cities, don't concentrate on monthly payment or square footage alone. Of course, it is important to find a property in your price range but calculate the entire cost of ownership including the long term resell value and holding costs.
For instance, let’s assume two buyers both purchase a home with a monthly mortgage of $1,000 per month. One is in an area that averages 2 percent appreciation per year; that means they are barely keeping pace with inflation. Another is in an area averaging 12 percent per year. Each keeps the home for five years.
The first buyer hasn’t even kept up with inflation so even though they may sell and have money in their pocket at closing, the reality is the next home they purchase will require even more money. They are behind the game at that point. On the other hand, by purchasing a home in a rapidly appreciating market, the second buyer preserves his/her buying power while beating inflation. In fact, it’s almost like living in the house for half price! They get back a significant portion of what they paid toward the mortgage for the entire time they lived there…all tax free!
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What are the top ten green cities in America?
Every year cities and towns across the nation compete for the title of "Best City," and typically using criteria such as crime rate, educational status, affordability, health care and employment. Technology and the environment may soon change the way we view the desirability of certain cities; for example, the ability to live anywhere and telecommute has allowed more people than ever the opportunity to discover the best real estate cities for air quality, low traffic, good water and other eco-friendly traits.
In a trend that is only beginning to grow, an investment in a top ten "green" city might be the start of something big! Country Home magazine recently released their list of the "379 Best Green Cities in America". If you are interested in finding the best real estate cities with the highest green ranking in the nation, order a real estate guide from Homes and Land to the following top ten green cities:
1. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
2. Ithaca, NY
3. Corvallis, OR
4. Springfield, MA
5.
Wenatchee, WA
6. Charlottesville, VA
7. Boulder,
CO
8. Madison, WI
9. Binghamton, NY
10. Champaign-Urbana, IL
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Where are the best beaches to buy real estate?
Waterfront homes never go out of style and beach front property is some of the most sought after real estate year after year. The beach house is always fashionable and in demand as a vacation home, seasonal rental or for retirement. The natural beauty of the location, persistent resale value and relative scarcity assure ocean front property will remain one of the most sought after forms of real estate for years to come. To locate premium waterfront real estate, begin by discovering America's most beautiful beaches. According to Dr. Beach, America's top ten beaches for 2007 included:
- Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
- Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
- Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
- Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
- Lighthouse Point Park, Daytona Beach, Florida
- Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
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