Know Your Neighbourhood

by Darrin DeRoches August 12 - 18, 2010

I had the pleasure of enjoying the Festival of Friends this weekend and while I was walking to the park, I noticed that the neighbourhoods are looking great.  I grew up in the Gage Park area and just sold two properties in the neighbourhood, and was pleasantly surprised how good the area is looking.  There are large, grand homes that are in excellent shape.  There are good schools, a huge park and easy access to transportation. The Gage Park area has always been a great area to raise a family in, and after walking the area, I’m convinced it’s a great place to invest in too.     The point I am trying to stress is to walk through the neighbourhood you are going to live in. I grew up in the neighbourhood and ran the streets for years, but to walk the streets and take time to look at and feel the surroundings gives you a better understanding of where you are investing your money.  I always suggest clients use Google Earth to view a property they are considering so they can see the whole area and potential benefits or downfalls.  You may be surprised to find parks or waterfalls in your potential area, but you may also find a dump or cemetery.  Driving around in your car may give you a feel for the property, but nothing beats hitting the pavement and walking the neighbourhood.     While you are on your stroll you can look at how the neighbours are keeping up their homes, you can see if there are any new homes being built or if there are proposed zoning changes; you may be surprised at what you find just strolling around.  I always like to look at the cars in the driveways.  They do not have to be brand new and high end but clean and well kept.  If you notice broken down and abandoned cars, you may want to rethink your purchase.  Finished driveways and clean cars shows a sense of pride in the area.      The festivals in the park are a great community event that you may enjoy while living in that neighbourhood.  The festival may have showcased a lot of great entertainers, but it also showcased the neighbourhood itself.  I was with a client who took a close look at homes as we strolled and started to consider adding this area to her search.  I would not be surprised if people who came from outside our city also took notice of the neighbourhood and left with a better view of Hamilton.  My only complaint with the festival is that they were serving Lakeport.  Labatt’s closed our brewery and eliminated over 200 jobs, and the only option was Lakeport beer.  I understand they help support the festival but I am sure other breweries would support us and we can in turn support them. V                           [DARRIN DEROCHES] Darrin DeRoches is a local real estate and mortgage broker. He can be reached to answer questions, comments or stories about real estate experiences through this weekly column at mail@uniquerealty.ca.