Have you heard the phrase ‘location, location, location’? Harold Samuel, the founder of Land Securities, coined the term in 1944. It is an emphasis referring to the importance of choosing your next home in the right location. House hunters in the mid-1940s often overlooked this aspect. A property’s location seemed undervalued until he said it, making it the number one rule in real estate.

Almost 80 years later, such a mantra still holds today. However, when we say location today, it does not only refer to the actual parcel where the house is constructed. Nowadays, there is a much holistic perception about the place of your next home, whether you choose to buy a house and lot for sale in Cavite or an apartment in Bonifacio Global City.

If you found the perfect home and you need to travel an hour to the nearest pharmacy, then it is not so perfect. Don’t you think? Thus, when looking for a new abode, here are the places and services that ~ideally~ should be within your neighborhood.

1) Grocery stores

You might have a favorite grocery store that is nice to have around your supposed new neighborhood–something that carries items you prefer. Don’t undermine this aspect. On certain occasions that you are compelled to shop at another grocery store where you cannot find what you are looking for, it throws off the entire grocery shopping experience. This is especially true when you must go to another store to exhaust your grocery shopping list.

So think of your preference, how frequent the grocery trips will be, and whether you are willing to drive a few minutes more to get to the grocery store. With the surging gas prices today, finding one close to your new home is the best option.

2) Schools

This does not apply to everyone, but if you have or will soon have school-aged children, relocating to a place with good schools is best. The closer your new home is to the school, the better. Your kids will make several trips on weekdays and might physically drain them if the school is too far from your residence. Not to mention the extracurricular activities they could engage in on weekends.

Also, please remember that properties near schools sell or rent higher than usual. That is because of the perceived demand. This is a good point if you intend to sell your property in the future, even if you think you would not require it. Planning and thinking of these things long before the idea pops into your head is fundamental to the process.

3) Hospital

This is another no-brainer–given a choice, you should pick a home near a healthcare facility. Then, when someone in the family gets sick, you need not travel too far to go to the nearest hospital. An hour of travel or less is perfect; a two-hour trip is tolerable for non-emergency situations. However, being on the road for three hours is agonizing for the patient.

Thus, there is one less worry if there is a hospital or clinic nearby.

4) Pharmacy

The majority of hospitals have pharmacies. However, going to the hospital each time you need to buy medicines will not be a pleasant experience if you need to travel far. The pharmacy trip will feel like a chore. You want to save more time by scouting the perimeter for available drugstores.

Do this pre-move if possible so you would not have to hasten to find one when the need arises.

5) Police station

You want to feel safe and protected, and no other entity can render a sense of security and protection than the police station. You can rest easy knowing that someone close by will be able to lend a hand whenever you need it. If not the police station, there should be a barangay outpost and tanods surveying the neighborhood at night.

Of course, if you live in a gated community, a security officer is always on standby to help you with anything you need.

6) Transport hub

Although this may come with time, the need to know your locality like the back of your hand is crucial. To explore places within and outside the neighborhood, you must know where the terminals are. Also, even if you are not going to use the public transportation system is not an excuse not to know the available modes of transport and where to find them. This spells convenience for you as well.

Reducing ignorance of where you live and knowing these places makes you less vulnerable to accomplishing time-sensitive tasks. However, you also want to be wary of this choice. A home that is too close to a busy roadway may affect its resale value due to the noise. You want value-adding factors, not value-reducing ones.

7) Workplace

How close your workplace is to your desired new address is often overlooked. However, you must ensure that your commute to and from work is not a total bummer. This is more so considering how erratic traffic can be. Of course, you can listen to an hour-long podcast on your way, but how long can you endure spending more time on the road on other more important things, right?

You can use Google Maps to determine that your new abode is a comfortable distance from your workplace. This will be potentially long-term, so this is an essential consideration.

8) Restaurants

Understandably, you want to savor moments at home over sumptuous home-cooked meals. Some of us prefer cooking at home rather than dining out. However, it is fun to pop out for a fine dining meal once in a while or on special occasions. Unfortunately, long commutes can ruin these special moments. So choose a place where restaurants or fast food eateries are reasonably close.

This is not a non-negotiable but a consideration, especially if the family prefers a weekly eat-out as a bonding moment.

9) Hobbies and interests

Though hobbies, interests, and other extra activities vary from one individual to another, it is best to be close to them. You embrace these hobbies for a reason–to keep your sanity when everything in your life gets chaotic. Additionally, this is a sure way to achieve work-life balance. If you love the beach, live close to the beach. If you love going to the movies on Saturday nights, make sure a cinema is nearby.

This one is specific. However, if family members have varied hobbies and interests, choose a residence near where everything is near. For example, it could be a mall or clubhouse. You will be more likely to do the things you like if they are closer to you. This is particularly beneficial if you live with the elderly who want to make good use of their spare time or young children who quickly get bored with repetitive activities.

10) Family and friends

You and your family might want to start living independently. No matter how, this does not mean distancing yourselves from family and friends. You do not want to miss out on special gatherings because you are too tired to drive. Again, this is how long commutes affect a person’s psyche. In the long run, you will realize you are missing out on many family-related activities because you live far away from them.

You will appreciate your new home more if it allows you to stay connected with the people who matter in your life.

11) Government offices

Of course, you cannot combine all government services in one place. However, it would be great if you could find those public services that are most useful to you in your community. Again, a no-brainer, it is best to live where the city hall is close to your new home.

Sense of community and the neighborhood concept

The desirability of the place lies in the concept of centrality. Of course, the choice of neighborhood is always personal. Nevertheless, an excellent community marries appearance, facilities, amenities, and accessibility. Centrality indeed!

A great neighborhood includes essential amenities–from grocery stores to restaurants. People frequent these places, and if any of these is lacking, the quality of life and living conditions will be

significantly diminished. In addition, a neighborhood near major terminals and thoroughfares means greater accessibility. Couple them with shaded areas, quality landscapes, and secured parks; this new neighborhood is heaven.

Bottom-line

Location, location, location, while it is highly subjective, is based on both static and dynamic factors. These factors will surely affect how you live in your new home and neighborhood. So when looking for a new permanent address, look for objective qualities as they contribute to your property’s value over time.

While at it, the locals are valuable sources of information. You might want to visit your desired neighborhood to ask them about the community. You will undoubtedly find people who are more than willing to share the local’s best-kept gems–from hole-in-the-wall restos to most-frequented hangout places.

Yes, the people are another vital thing to consider, besides places and services. While it is true that we cannot choose our neighbors, we can at least get to know them in the spirit of communal living.