Getting a Mortgage: Finding the Right Neighbourhood For You

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a house, but choosing the right neighbourhood that can support your needs is important. So how should you decide where you want to live? Here are our top tips.

Assess Your Lifestyle

It’s important to consider your lifestyle when choosing your new home. If you love the hustle and bustle of city life and going out at night, you’re not going to be happy in a quiet country setting. If sport is your passion in life, then access to running routes or a gym may be a priority. Or perhaps you need a peaceful environment away from the sound of traffic? If you’re buying with a partner, sit down and separately write out location wish lists, then regroup and see where you have some overlap. This will ensure you’re both on the same page for what’s negotiable -and what’s not.

Consider Your Commute

Your commute to work is an essential aspect to consider when buying a house, as it will hugely impact your daily life. If you have your heart set on a particular area, it’s a good idea to do a test run of your route to work to see how long the journey will take. If you don’t drive, it’s essential to have good transportation links, so look up local bus or rail times to make sure the service suits your schedule.

Check Out the Local Amenities

Make a list of the amenities you require in a neighbourhood before you go house-hunting. If you have young children for example, you need to consider schools in the area. Check proximity to shops, gyms, petrol stations, libraries, hospitals, coffee shops etc…

Ensure the Area is Well Serviced

Is the area well maintained by the local council? Are the roads well maintained for example? Are there trees and green spots in the area? Is it lit well at night? These things will impact the value of the house and the quality of life you are likely to have living there.

Is it Family Friendly?

If you have a family, you will need to consider whether the neighbourhood is suited to children. Do your homework on local schools and if you’re seriously considering an area, ask the school if you can drop in to see if it’s a good fit for your family. Keep an eye out for green spaces like parks. Not only are they a fantastic amenity, they’ll give you an opportunity to have a candid conversation with other parents in the area.

Go for a Wander

An area might sound perfect on paper, but may turn out not be a great place to live. The best way to get a feel for a neighbourhood is to walk around it. Call into local coffee shops, attend open house viewings or chat to your potential neighbours. They can give you a good idea of what the area is like. Visualise yourself living in the area and imagine how you would go about a typical day. Good luck!

Take the Next Step

Once you’ve found your perfect location the next step is securing mortgage approval. Not sure where to start? Request a call backor book an appointmentin a local branch with one of our mortgage advisors who will help you devise a plan.

Some of the links above bring you to external websites. Your use of an external website is subject to the terms of that site. Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is an authorised agent and servicer of AIB Mortgage Bank in relation to origination and servicing of mortgage loans and mortgages. AIB Mortgage Bank is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Copyright Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. 1995.