Whether you’re a first-time home buyer, a growing family looking to upgrade, or a senior looking to downsize, it’s important to find both a home and an area that meets your needs. Buying your first home is like falling in love – exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of potential mishaps. In general, anyone buying a home for the first time should be looking at location, affordability, and the daily commute, but every stage of life has its own set of needs.

Young Professionals

• Proximity to Work: Living close to work or having easy access to public transportation saves time and reduces stress and expenses. Depending on the situation, there may be a need for a reserved parking spot, a charging station, or access to express buses and train stations.

• Future Growth: Choose a place that can grow with you, whether it’s adding a pet, a partner, or a baby. Consider the need for another room, closets, and parking. With “work from home” becoming the new normal, make sure that there is space to set up a home office.

• Social Scene: Look for areas that offer restaurants, cafés, or a gym within walking distance.

Families

When the family expands, space and community become even more important. Aside from a larger space, a growing family should be looking for a friendly neighbourhood with:

• Safe Streets: Use an app like Waze to see the traffic patterns in an area. If you’re close to a park or pool, check what the streets look and sound like when people park or attend activities. 

• Zoning for schools: Check which school boards have schools in the area. Are they within walking distance? Is there eligibility for busing?

• Teenagers: As kids get older and more independent, their needs change. Look for proximity to a bus stop or train station for children who will soon be heading off to post-secondary institutions. 

• Recreation options: Libraries, indoor and outdoor rinks and pools, basketball courts, sports fields, skate parks, waterparks, and places for lessons in crafts, dance, or martial arts are all part of a thriving community.

• Access to work and family: Reducing commute times helps balance work and family life. If aging parents are a factor, keep in mind the commute for helping with errands, appointments, or weekly visits.

Empty Nesters, New Retirees, and Seniors

• Downsizing: A smaller home reduces maintenance and costs, freeing up time and money for hobbies. Having an extra bedroom available for guests or as a hobby room/office may ease the transition. Bungalows or buildings with elevators are ideal for those with reduced mobility.

• Retirement Communities: These offer social opportunities, activities, and security.

• Maintenance-Free Living:  A condominium, or a building that offers additional services like air-conditioned units, an indoor pool, a gym, or includes amenities such as WiFi and communal gathering spaces.

Much like for families with children, make sure the community has features that will meet one’s needs at any age. Athletic facilities, libraries, walking paths, social clubs, and attractive parks all add to one’s quality of life. Access to services should be within a short walk or ride by public transit; proximity is crucial when driving is no longer an option. 

No matter where you are in life, finding the right home is about meeting one’s unique needs. Ask your real estate broker for assistance – brokers have all the latest information at their fingertips and often live in the neighbourhoods they serve. 

Crystal Champagne is a residential real estate broker and a Pointe-Claire resident specializing in West Island and Montreal real estate. To learn more, please visit https://crystalchampagnerealty.com/.