By Jay Ovalle. http://jayovalle.wordpress.com/
“In a home, the site is what matters.” Lao Tse, “Tao Te Ching” (400-600? B.C.). Although Lao
Tse was making a spiritual point, the metaphor evidently was already in use in the literal sense. I am sure, very far back, our hairy ancestors had to deal, on a daily basis, with the question of where to locate their temporary shelters. The proximity to resources, the danger of predators or unfriendly “neighbors” made the consideration of location the oldest and most important criterion in choosing a site for a home.
These days there are no wild beasts roaming around, and unfriendly neighbors don’t really arm themselves to take over your home, but today as eons ago, the value of a location remains central to the value of your home. When a new home is built, the builder will set a premium for the best locations and a discount for the worst, such as a lot backing to a busy street. Location, as used in this context, is a very broad term that may include living in a particular city, neighborhood, or a school district. The consideration of location may also include your access to resources, work and transportation.
The choosing of any location is a decision consistent with each and every buyer’s unique circumstances. I remember a client who did not mind buying a home that faced busy 7th Avenue in downtown Phoenix. She said the noise and bustle reminded her of Chicago and that it was very comforting to her. However, the important thing for homebuyers to remember is that, the better the location the better the investment. A desirable location is always in demand and your home may sell faster and have a better resale value.
The City
In selecting a city you may want to know its demographics, resources, general plan, main industries, job opportunities, schools rating, property taxes and so many other facts that may be of importance only to you.
The Neighborhood
Next you must consider a neighborhood. You may want to know its boundaries and what lies adjacent to it that may diminish its value (Google it). You may not want to live next to a dairy farm, a smoke stack, a city waste dump, within the noise boundaries of an airport or backing to an obsolete trailer park. You should check and search online for crime statistics of the area, and for the location of sex offenders in the area as well.
With gasoline over four bucks a gallon, distances have become very important. Is there easy access to major highways? How far do you have to drive to work, to the supermarket, to the mall, the airport, downtown, and other amenities? Is mass transit an available option? I helped a buyer who actually visited the local grocery store, strip malls, a restaurant and the mall, and later decided it was not where she wanted to live. If you have children, is it a family-friendly neighborhood? Are there lots of children? Are the schools close? How are they rated? Are you close to the bus stop? Any parks or green areas nearby?
After the vicinity, the pride of ownership should be the most telling clue about a neighborhood. If everyone is taking care of their homes it will help maintain values. In this regard I must mention the often-despised HOA (Homeowners Association). They enforce the developer’s “CC&R’s” (Covenants, Condition and Restrictions), a document detailing the obligations and rules by which you will abide to be a member of the neighborhood. Rebels and advocates of free expression don’t do well here. But a frequent omission in discussing the rules is that they were put in place to extend the vision of the builder and its architect. Their holistic approach supercedes anyone’s right to express their individual taste. This integration adds a reliable measure of value to the neighborhood, where you would expect an “enforced” and permanent pride of ownership. The cons can usually be traced to self-managed (vs. professionally managed) associations made of community volunteers who run for office and are summarily elected with a small participation from the whole. These volunteers are in effect running the neighborhood on your behalf the best they can. So read the CC&R’s before you buy in one of these subdivisions.
The Home
Now lets talk about the location of the home within the neighborhood or subdivision. You may not care about some of the following negatives for varied reasons, but when selling, you will narrow the pool of buyers willing to accept a negative location. Like I said before, these lots originally were sold cheaper as less desirable locations. You got a fair deal when you purchased, and when selling, you must pass it on. The most objections I hear are:
Backing or facing to a busy street or highway. Noise, pollution and safety are the obvious concerns. The worst location being on the corner of two or three busy streets.
Orientation of the home. Here in Arizona’s hot weather a North/South orientation is preferred.
Power lines. Whether on the back or front of the home, they are considered an eyesore, not to mention the perception that electromagnetic fields are a hazard to human beings.
Backing up to commercial or industrial property. Again, noise and safety.
Lack of privacy. Backyard or/and pool face two story home(s).
Being at the end of a street “T.” Oncoming traffic that is more evident in the evenings.
Pests. Scorpions, rats and pigeons can be a localized hazard.
Fissures and Subsidence. A problem the Valley is facing in some areas as we deplete ground water. After it is drained, the soil compacts and gives away creating fissures and sink holes.
After finding a home in a great location, you are now ready to buy. First you must talk to your immediate neighbors-to-be; ask them what they think of their neighborhood. Neighbors will tell you things about the neighborhood in a more objective way because they’re not selling you anything. In the process you will get acquainted and conclude they could be wonderful neighbors to have.

