Monday, January 12, 2009

The Advantages of Small Town Real Estate

By John Kron

Most people from the big city might at one time or another think about getting away from it all in a small town. Here are a few of the advantages of small communities, as well as a few of the drawbacks.

Depending on the specific area and market, it might be possible to save money by purchasing property in a small town. Looking at the market value of homes in the city as compared to a smaller town will let you know if this can be an advantage to you. A city might have a larger market demand and higher land costs than a town.

A lot can be said about small town values and friendliness. This factor alone will influence many people that look at homes in a smaller community. With smaller schools, less traffic and shorter walks to the playground, you might decide that a small community is a much better environment for your children.

Buying property in a small community that is steadily growing might mean that your home's equity will grow too. An up and coming town will always help the value of a house. See if you can tell whether a specific community seems to be in decline or on the rise. This might take a little investigation!

If you are thinking about looking a little further into small town life, it might be worthwhile to visit a few communities. Taking a drive through a town can tell you a lot about it. Here are a few areas to check out.

As well as figuring out the distance from the highway and the big city, how about a police station? Is there a medical center nearby? See if you can find the fire department, the scools and playgrounds, and any recreational facilities.

If you are thinking that you might want to look for a home in a smaller community, the next step will be finding a real estate agent to help you. You might decide that the correct decision for your lifestyle is to live in a large metropolitan area. But if you do choose to move out into a less populated center, I hope you find it as peaceful and safe as I do.

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