Location, Location, Location

You must be sure to be in a neighborhood that offers the closest possible match to the kind of lifestyle that you want.  Trulia recently conducted a survey with Harris Interactive, and the real estate site found 84% of Americans said the neighborhood would be equally important or even more important than the house itself if they were searching for a new home.

Location is so important that people are willing to give up "must-have" features to buy into their desired neighborhood: 72% would forget about a pool and 33% would accept less square footage.

What matters is living in a safe place with good schools.  According to Trulia, 69% of buyers would drive through the neighborhood during different times of the day to determine if the neighborhood was the right fit.

You cannot go buy a home without choosing a location where you would like to live.  Probably the most significant decision when buying a home is where it is.

Location influences nearly every part of your life.  Your home does not exist in a bubble.  It is part of a bigger community.  It is important to find a neighborhood or area that suits your needs.  Do you want the peace of a secluded woods or the energy of a bustling city center?

Do research before starting your search.  Drive through the area and see if all the stores, activities, and features you want are there.  Eat at local restaurants and walk through a nearby park.  As price is mainly based on location and condition of the property, when someone starts looking for their house, it is important to consider the location and how far it is from schools, shopping areas, and other facilities.  Home means comfort, and comfort cannot come if the location is not suitable.