Once you’ve settled on the idea that you are going to build a new home, the next step is to decide the perfect location when building a new home. Choosing the right location for your new home is a pretty big deal for a number of reasons. Your home's location will determine not only it’s resale value, but many aspects of your everyday life and overall enjoyment of your new home. Here are some factors you should consider carefully when selecting a location.

Geographic Location

The part of the country or state you choose to live in will have a major impact on your life. So make this decision very carefully. You should take into consideration factors that are most important to you, like city vs. suburb vs. rural area, average home prices in the area, job opportunities in your field, proximity to family and loved ones, and climate.

Neighborhood

Once you have settled on a particular geographic location, it is time to consider neighborhoods. Different neighborhoods will have different characteristics and feels to them. You will want to pick one that is the closest fit to your lifestyle and personality - a place where you will feel most comfortable.

Consider the size of the neighborhood, what amenities you would like in a community, who your neighbors will be, architectural style of the homes, privacy and/or noise levels, and any other characteristics that are important to you or would affect your enjoyment of a community. It is often a good idea to try knocking on doors and talking to some of the current residents to get a better feel for the neighborhood.

School District

If you have or are planning to have kids, school district is certainly an important consideration. Living in a good public school district will save you tens of thousands of dollars that you might otherwise spend on private school. And even if you don't have kids, it is still a good idea to consider the quality of neighborhood schools when choosing your new home location in order to maximize the resale value of your home. The cost of a piece of property or a new home in a particular neighborhood typically reflects the school district it is in. You will pay a premium to live in a neighborhood with good schools, but you will reap the rewards ten-fold by not having to pay for private school tuition and increasing the value of your investment.

As a builder, Evergreen Homes only chooses locations for its new home communities with top-notch school districts like the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Evergreen Homes’ 20-plus years of experience building homes for families in Canton, Michigan has taught it that the quality of the public school system is always one of the most important criterion to homebuyers.

Convenience

It may sound cliché, but the old adage about “location, location, location” holds as true today as ever. Just ask any real estate agent. However, the sorts of things that make a particular location perfect for one homebuyer, may not be important considerations for you. So when choosing a location for your new home, consider its proximity to work, family and friends, and leisure activities.

The length of your daily commute can have a significant impact on your disposable income, quality of life and how much time you get to spend at home with your family. Determine what is the longest commute you want to endure and look for homes within that distance from your job. If you are not planning to stay at your current job long-term, you may want to consider what the job prospects are in or near the areas where you would like to live.

Another important consideration when choosing where to build a new home is proximity to family and friends. The nicest home may not feel very homey if you live too far away to enjoy it with your friends and family on a regular basis.

Lastly, consider a location’s proximity to those things that you enjoy doing in your leisure time. Do you love going out to eat, shopping, taking in a show, watching or participating in your favorite sport? Whatever it may be, make sure opportunities to enjoy whatever makes your family happy are conveniently located nearby when choosing a location for your new home.

Safety

For most people, safety is a top consideration. One way to get a feel for how safe an area is, is to search the Internet. Facts and statistics are available online through websites, forums and message boards. You may also want to drive around both during the day and night to get your own “feel” for the area. 

Ranked one of the “50 Safest Cities in Michigan” according to multiple sources, Canton, Michigan is a safe suburban community perfect for any family looking to put down roots. That is one of the many reasons Evergreen Homes has been building residential communities in Canton Township for over 20 years.

Visit During Different Times

We recommend visiting an area several times on different days, at different times and in different weather conditions to get an accurate picture of the area. It can be hard to judge a neighborhood's character in the dead of winter or on a rainy day when everyone is cooped up indoors. You'll also want to check for things like how well the neighborhood is lit at night, which you can't observe during the day.

Also, it is advisable to drive through an area, or in and out of a particular neighborhood, during rush hour or at the times of day you will be commuting to and from work or school. Are you able to make that left turn out of the neighborhood? Is the only route to the expressway backed up for miles? These are headaches you don’t want to find out about once you have moved in to your new home!

Keep in mind that the location of your new home will factor into your enjoyment of it just as much as the style and decoration will. So take your time and make sure you consider your decision carefully.