You don’t have to look too hard to find a great place to build your dream home in Australia.
But a place to live isn’t the same as a place you feel at home. How do you know it’s a location where you truly belong?
As a buyer, picking a neighbourhood that has the best to offer is essential, but it’s just as crucial to be sure that it’s also the perfect fit for you.
We spoke to some experts to find out what questions you should be asking yourself, to find a community where you really belong.
1. Does it match your lifestyle?
The most important factor when finding a home is being somewhere that you want to live, not somewhere that ticks the boxes.
“You want something that corresponds with your everyday life If you have kids, you want somewhere that has green space with a park nearby and roads that have been designed to be a little bit safer.
“Retirees will want to feel safe, maybe have a dog park or somewhere to meet other residents.”
While younger buyers will likely prioritise access to eateries, transport, and entertainment.
Every buyer will have different lifestyle needs making it vital to know exactly what you want before you start hunting,
“You have to think about how you enjoy spending your spare time and then find a suburb that fits you — not the other way round.
2. Do you identify with the theme?
The overall vibe of a neighbourhood is important because the theme is what you’ll experience every day.
If you love nature, fresh air and plenty of peace and quiet, then a green-themed development is most likely for you.
Alternatively, if you love hustle and bustle, modern amenities at your door and a vibrant village-style hub, then a trendy urban neighbourhood is probably more your style.
“People know what they want — it’s about finding it.
“It’s about seeing as many developments as you can and then it will just feel right when you find the right one.”
3. Has it got the amenity you want?
Perhaps you like to start each day with laps at the local pool, or you love to grab a coffee at your local cafe.
Or, it might be schools, connectivity to the CBD, or a shopping centre.
“Amenity is everything.
“It brings ease to your life, with the convenience of having shops, schools and transport nearby.
“Amenity also acts as a ‘bumping ground’ where you meet your local neighbours and like-minded people within your community.
Being close to shopping centres and other amenities makes a big difference to your everyday life.
Think long and hard about the amenity you want and look for a development that can offer everything you need and more.
4. Are there community foundations?
Community spirit doesn’t just happen. There needs to be opportunities for residents to spark connection.
This is why many developments incorporate central areas as part of the design to foster connection.
But Melody says keep an eye out for developments that go even further to promote relationships.
“Some Property, run social connection programs to activate the relationships between residents.
“These are based around the passions and interests of the residents. We ask them to tell us what it is that they want and then we support programs based around that.”
This can include board game nights, open cinema screenings, yoga classes and special events for major holidays, such as Easter and Christmas.
5. Are the communal spaces engaging?
Most new developments these days will include a park or some kind of communal space for residents to hang around in.
But these areas need to be useful, not an afterthought.
“Place activation is really important,” explains Melody.
“The space can be a park or an open space, or an urban streetscape, but they have to be comfortable, practical and have a good vibe about them to make them valuable.
“People have to actually want to be there and stand around and have conversations and interact. Otherwise, they won’t get used. Communal spaces are made for socialising.
6. Does it inspire pride?
Let’s face it, the neighbourhood we all want to live in is an area that gives us a sense of satisfaction and joy.
“How you see your community is very important because as soon as you step out of your house every day, you want to feel that you’ve made the right choice.
“This is where you’ve chosen to build your home and you’re happy with that.”
If you don’t feel pride in your postcode, you may find yourself discouraging friends and family from visiting or telling people you live in a more desirable postcode nearby, so it’s crucial to make the right choice before signing on the dotted line.
