By Tracy Grossman
Feb 1, 2013
A: When deciding on a community to live in, what you look for really depends on your particular stage in life.
If you have a young family, you’ll need to consider the schools, taxes, home values, size of town, recreational options and town facilities such as parks, libraries, community centers healthcare facilities, shopping and restaurants. You’ll also factor in the commute time to work, public transportation options and crime rates.
If you are retired, you will want to consider what the community offers for retired individuals, or if you are single perhaps nightlife is important to you. There are many websites that can be helpful when researching a community.
A good Realtor can help buyers through this process when they really understand the buyer’s needs, lifestyle and price range. A Realtor can also make choosing a community easier for a buyer when they are very knowledgeable about the community that a buyer is considering. The number one skill for a good realtor is the ability to listen to clients.
I spend a great deal of time getting to know my clients so that I have a more in-depth understanding of what their needs are. It’s not just a matter of finding a home within a price range, but identifying a home that fits a client’s overall lifestyle and provides a quality of life specific to them.
Here are a few websites that are useful when deciding on a community: www.bestplaces.com, www.homefair.com, and www.moving.com.
— Tracy Grossman, Prudential Connecticut Realty, 203-869-0500
