Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Whether you like big yards or hip nightclubs, there's a community type that fits your lifestyle.

12 Kinds of Neighbourhoods

 
1. Urban Core (Downtown)


Where to find it:
Downtown, the heart of major metros

What you can call home:
Aging single family homes and apartments, modern luxury lofts and condos converted from old warehouses and above businesses

Your Neighbours:
Ethnically diverse mix of young single professionals, low to middle income families and seniors

Why You'll Like It:
Affordable housing, eclectic mix of high-end and modest, close to nightlife and city attractions

Why You May Not:
Little to no public parking, typically has higher rate of crime, transients

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2. Urban Pioneer (Up-and-Coming)


Where to find it:
Near downtown and inner-ring suburbs

What you can call home:
Fixer uppers, older single family homes ranging in style from ranch to modern, garden-style apartment buildings

Your Neighbours:
Ethnically diverse mix of young singles and couples, recently divorced and single parents, aging retirees who have lived in the neighborhood for years, immigrants

Why You'll Like It:
Cheaper homes that are likely to increase in value, working-class sensibility, new development

Why You May Not:
Construction noise and eyesores, neighbors who can't renovate their homes

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3. New Urban


Where to find it:
Near a business hub other than the city's main downtown

What you can call home:
New single family homes in retro styles, upscale apartments and condos, lofts above businesses

Your Neighbours:
Educated, affluent-to-middle income couples with no or few children, young single professionals

Why You'll Like It:
Close to work, shopping and nightlife

Why You May Not:
Too many hipsters, inflated home prices push some buyers out of the market

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4. Cul-de-sacs & Kids (Bedroom)


Where to find it:
Suburbs and new subdivisions

What you can call home:
Large single family homes with manicured lawns and finished basements, tract homes, newly built homes

Your Neighbours:
Middle-aged soccer moms and dads whose lives revolve around their children

Why You'll Like It:
Lots of curb appeal, playmates for your children, active neighbourhood associations

Why You May Not:
You're single or don't have children, not close to city hotspots

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5. Pedestrian


Where to find it:
Small pockets in major metros

What you can call home:
Cozy condos and apartments, lofts above businesses

Your Neighbours:
Hipsters and single professionals

Why You'll Like It:
You don't need a car to get what you need

Why You May Not:
Little to no parking, noise, density

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6. Historic


Where to find it:
Anywhere

What you can call home:
Large, well-preserved, older single family homes known for their architectural styles ranging from Victorian/Queen Anne to Colonial Revival

Your Neighbours:
Style-conscious middle-aged couples, aging adults who grew up in the neighborhood, home-improvement buffs

Why You'll Like It:
Lots of curb appeal, history and character

Why You May Not:
Stringent home maintenance and style requirements

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7. Status/Destination


Where to find it:
In the hills or mountains, by water, behind gates

What you can call home:
Large, custom-built single family homes and McMansions on the lake, on the beach, with city views, in gated communities; plush penthouses and lofts in trendy, urban areas

Your Neighbours:
Affluent high-powered executives and wannabes, upper-middle income achievers, celebrities, millionaires

Why You'll Like It:
Status, exclusivity, privacy, security

Why You May Not:
Keeping up with the Jones is hard work

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8. Ethnic


Where to find it:
Near downtowns in major metros

What you can call home:
Small apartments, older single family homes

Your Neighbours:
Immigrants from a particular ethnicity, young couples, budget-conscious singles

Why You'll Like It:
Affordable housing, interesting cuisine and products

Why You May Not:
If you're not the same ethnicity, you may feel like an outsider

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9. Active/Resort


Where to find it:
Sunbelt and coastal cities, in the desert, by water or in the mountains

What you can call home:
Large single-family homes in newer architectural styles, luxury cabins, upscale condos

Your Neighbours:
Affluent and active middle-aged adults and seniors

Why You'll Like It:
Outdoor activities to fit your lifestyle, tons of places to get a tan, go fishing or hiking

Why You May Not:
You're a couch potato

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10. Golf


Where to find it:
New subdivision surrounding a golf course

What you can call home:
Upscale single family homes and condos in mostly contemporary styles

Your Neighbours:
Families with young children, retirees, golf fanatics

Why You'll Like It:
You love golf, tons of amenities

Why You May Not:
You hate golf

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11. Retirement


Where to find it:
Sunbelt and coastal cities as well as in pockets of outlying areas from cities (mini subdivisions)

What you can call home:
Small, low-maintenance apartments and condos with all kinds of amenities

Your Neighbors:
Empty nesters, single seniors

Why You'll Like It:
Weather, organized activities and social events

Why You May Not:
You're young and single

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12. Rural


Where to find it:
Miles from the city

What you can call home:
Custom-built homes with lots of acreage and room to grow

Your Neighbors:
Nature

Why You'll Like It:
Space and privacy

Why You May Not:
Far from everything

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