What makes a home a great place to live?
Buyers want a great place to live, which involves more than just the house. Beyond the walls that people call home lies the neighborhood and community that make a particular location a great place to live. We asked our buyers to define what makes a particular place great and we asked our sellers what they'll miss most when leaving the area behind.
Defining what makes it great
Location
For some buyers location might be at the top of the priority list when trying to decide what spot is right for them. Work commute can be a factor, and location to shopping, dining, or access to the highway might determine what is most important. We work with a wide variety of clients from different generations; both those having families, young professionals and those enjoying the single life. We know each client has individual preferences and priorities. When we help our clients purchase a home, we also help them identify the intangibles that go along with it.
"Being close to everything is what makes living near Southpoint a great place to live. We have everything we could want within a five-minute drive. Our friends are never too far, especially because we can just hop on I-40 and be anywhere quick." Stacy W. (Young couple with children.) "I lived up north and had a pretty long commute. There was just so much traffic, all the time. I wanted to make sure I had easy access to work and that doing the basic things weren't a hassle. Those were most important to me. If doing everyday things require a lot of planning then it just makes life stressful." Jeff S. (Young adult, without children)
Neighbors
For some clients, looking for a great place to live includes a sense of community with the neighbors. Having a support 
system or friendly faces to interact with on a regular basis may make a particular neighborhood more intrinsically valuable. Community resources are a big reason some buyers have their heart set on specific neighborhoods. Coming together at a special gathering place or a group that rallies everyone to celebrate the seasons can make neighborhoods into communities. "A neighborhood that has community events with the kids. We want to know our neighbors and have reasons to get together, like for a block party or summer kick off. We see our neighbors regularly at the pool or celebrating for the 4th of July or Halloween. The kids have fun at these events and we enjoy the community of it." Jon W. (Father to 2 young children)
Amenities
Access to different amenities can be a draw for buyers. The walkability score, like in Trinity Park, or being right off the fairway might be key to what is most important. Because buyers have a variety of interests it is important to talk about what amenities are important and where they fall on the list when prioritizing homes. From golf to horses, clients might want acreage or access to conveniences.
"We love the amount of land and privacy we were able to buy. We have a great trail that leads to New Hope Creek for hikes and we live on a quiet road that dead ends to a cul de sac, so the kids can ride their bikes and the dog has enough room to roam without being bothersome." Andrea B. (Mother to 2 young children)
Privacy
"The privacy I have is great. I'm in a secluded spot that makes coming home more of a hideaway. The solitude is nice after a long day at work." Jeff S. (Young adult, without children) 
Some clients are looking for something more off the beaten path that makes their great place to live a retreat away from the busyness of life. Luckily, in the Triangle there are a great mix of homes that suit the needs for different wants and desires that make a house a home.
Identifying the key elements for what makes a place great to live will help narrow down the type of property, location, size of lot or size of home. Here is a list to help identify what brings value to make a home a great place to live:
* Access to conveniences (restaurants, grocery stores, highways, hospitals)
* Proximity to your neighbors (acreage, mature trees, amount of required property maintenance)
* Amenities (swimming pools, tennis/basketball courts, golf courses, trails)
* Community (local involvement, gatherings, possible HOA)
* Commute to work (driving distance, access to public transportation)
Prioritize what you come up with and this will pare down what's available. Working together on what you find valuable will help in the next phase of determining which house is the best fit. There are other factors before making an offer, but this is a great place to start. Our history in the real estate industry and experience will help you find a great place to live.
Co-authored by 3 Bossy Bees
Posted by Larry Tollen on
I agree with the main points that were mentioned in this blog. We are in our third family home and we are all here(done having children). Our needs/wants have changed as our family has grown throughout the years. Right now we have more family friends in the neighborhood than we could have imagined. Our kids have lots of options for friends and my wife and I double date frequently with couples in the area. I never know how great a thing good neighbors can really be!
Posted by Dante on Monday, October 29th, 2018 at 5:32pmDante - Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Really happy to hear you're enjoying your neighborhood, as you note, when it's a good fit, it's really special.
What a beautiful post! I really enjoyed reading it and reflecting on my life and finding the right place for me and my family. There really is so much importance in finding the right place, not just financially but also emotionally as well. Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely article. Whitney- Thanks for the compliment, it's always nice to hear that folks like our articles. - The My NC Homes Team
Posted by Whitney on Tuesday, October 30th, 2018 at 5:00pmLeave A Comment