For most Canadians, owning their own home is a life-long dream. It brings with it pride of ownership, security and the feeling of control over which improvements are made and how much they cost. There’s also the chance your home will increase in value, making it a sound financial, as well as a lifestyle investment.

When buying a home, you have to juggle three important factors — your prospective home’s location, style and cost.

• Location – your choice of location depends primarily on where you work and whether you want to commute, and also on your family lifestyle. Some real estate representatives suggest that, if you’re considering the future resale value of your home, it’s wiser to buy a modest home in the best neighborhood you can afford than the most expensive home in a modest neighborhood.

• Style – when trying to decide what style of home to buy, it’s a good idea to draw up a master list of all the features you want your new home to have. Try to be honest about what you’re looking for. Your vision will likely change based on what’s available in your price range.

• Cost – your goal may be to buy a single family detached home in an urban neighborhood for $400,000, but you may have to settle for two out of three. An urban semi-detached home may be available for your price, or you may need to look in the suburbs for the price and style you want.

If you are thinking of making a move, or just curious about the real estate trends in a specific area, please feel free to contact us any time at 403-606-1765 or email bill@billbrandsma.com. It is our pleasure to help you.

Bill Brandsma Real Estate – specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.