| If you were to ask a group of people looking for a | | | | century ago. A person interested in one of these |
| new home what makes a particular city, town or | | | | homes is not only buying the building and the land it |
| neighborhood desirable real estate, you would likely | | | | sits on; they are also buying the sense of history |
| get similar answers from all the respondents. What | | | | that comes with the property. |
| do these in-demand locations have in common? | | | | To them, older homes have more character than |
| Consider the following: | | | | their modern counterparts. The craftsmanship |
| Downtown Living | | | | demonstrated by builders in days gone by is not |
| The closer a person lives to the center of town, the | | | | something that can easily be duplicated today. |
| higher the cost. A person who wants to be within | | | | Large Home |
| walking distance of where the action is will pay a | | | | When asked to describe their dream home, people |
| premium price for the privilege. | | | | tend to talk about a spacious home with large, airy |
| Close to Water | | | | rooms featuring high ceilings. We want to avoid the |
| If you want to live near a body of water, you will | | | | feeling of being cramped or having our furniture |
| need to dig deeper into your wallet. Ocean- or | | | | jammed into a too-small space. |
| lakefront properties are typically more expensive | | | | Close to Amenities |
| than those located further inland. Some people think | | | | People want to live close to the conveniences of |
| of this purchase as an investment and count on the | | | | modern life. The conveniences which are important to |
| value of the property increasing quickly. | | | | us vary, depending on what stage of life we are in. |
| Property owners may decide to use their home near | | | | People with young families want to live near schools. |
| the water as a vacation get-away location only. The | | | | Depending on what activities their children are |
| property may be rented out when the owners are | | | | involved in, they may want to live close to a |
| not using it as a way to defray the cost of owning | | | | swimming pool, skating rink, soccer field, or a dance |
| and maintaining the property. | | | | studio. |
| Golf Course Nearby | | | | No one wants to drive for a long distance to get to |
| When looking for a new home if you see a sign | | | | a shopping center, day care center, church or |
| indicating that a golf course is nearby, you know you | | | | synagogue, doctor, dentist, or veterinarian. Those |
| are looking at a home in a very desirable | | | | people who work out regularly will want to live close |
| neighborhood. There is something about being close | | | | to a gym. |
| to a golf course that immediately suggests luxurious | | | | The most desirable real estate locations have these |
| living. | | | | elements in common. Each person who pictures his or |
| Older Home | | | | her dream home will give more weight to certain |
| Older homes that make it onto the list of most | | | | items on this wish list. Which ones would be at the |
| desirable real estate were likely built at least a | | | | top of yours? |