How to choose a community that is right for you

When shopping for a new residence, there are many things to consider to find the perfect choice for you. One of them is community. You may buy a house or condominium suite, but your lifestyle extends far beyond the bricks and mortar to your surroundings. As you shop, find out what opportunities are available for socializing, exercising, entertaining, shopping and running other errands – the things that mean so much as you go about your day-to-day routine.

Neighbourhood amenities

If you select a lowrise home, look at how far it is to drive or walk to local amenities. Perhaps the community features a multi-purpose centre or a convenient shopping centre. Is public transit access nearby? If so, taking a bus or subway could make going to work or running errands handy. Is there a park in the neighbourhood? That’s especially important if you have children who love to play outdoors or a dog to walk. Some communities have communal gardening plots, greenhouses and the like. You may elect to go freehold, or perhaps you like the niceties that come along with a lowrise community where a condominium component covers the neighbourhood roads for snow removal and some year-round exterior upkeep.

Of course, the concept of community also factors in significantly in condominiums, which are in essence vertical communities. Condo residents love being able to work out, host large parties, barbecue, swim, watch movies and sports events on the big screen, lounge with neighbours, and even do a bit of shopping on the ground floor without ever leaving the building. For them, the maintenance fees are well worth the convenience.

The fact that condominiums are placed close to transportation nodes and local amenities also plays a major role in people’s decisions to go condo. For intensification purposes, condominium developers are required to place buildings where residents can make use of existing and future infrastructure. This holds true for Toronto and for the GTA.

Condo convenience

Today, families are also choosing to live in condominiums because of convenience. Some buildings contain a daycare facility, which is ideal for parents of babies and small children. Teens are able to hop onto a bus or subway to travel to games, concerts and other events – eliminating their parents having to warm up the car and drive them. Again, ease of living is key.

If you do decide to live in a condominium and believe there are amenities you may not use, such as a pool, keep in mind that when you go to sell someday, having swimming available in the building may sway a potential buyer’s mind. In addition, once you move in, you may find you love communal areas more than you thought.

Every buyer is different, and sales representatives recognize that. It is important to find the best home or condo suite to fit your needs and wants. What all new home purchasers have in common is the enjoyment of warranty coverage and being the dwelling’s first owners. Go vertical living.