Buying a house in Guelph isn’t easy. We have a tough market in many price points. No matter the year, we seem to lack sufficient resale inventory to meet the demand of people either moving to Guelph or from within the city.
In determining if a home in Guelph is right for you, there are so many considerations. Among them is exactly where to buy in this city. As the saying goes, when it comes to real estate, the three things that matter are: location, location, location.
It sounds simple, but it’s not. A good Buyer’s Agent helps you think through a home’s location. As with most things in real estate, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Identifying the Right Neighbourhood for You
Choosing the right neighbourhood isn’t easy! We have a lot of great areas to choose from in Guelph.
Considerations on how to choose the right neighbourhood are often pretty practical, and rightfully so. Things like access to nearby amenities and proximity to our places of work are pretty basic. Other things can come into play and depend entirely on each buyer’s unique preferences – privacy, mature trees, lot size, style of home, and so forth.
Once you’ve zeroed in on a neighbourhood or two, you might want to search online for relevant stories or social media groups. I am also a big fan of just asking people. We’re a friendly bunch in Guelph. Most of us will venture forth our opinions if asked what we like (and don’t like) about where we live.
If Buyers are worried about something specific – school is noisy, they’ve heard there are too many renters and parties going on, etc. – I suggest driving around at different times of day and evening, to see what’s really going on.
Considering School Districts
I think that a good school district should be a priority for Home Buyers at any stage of life. Don’t want kids or yours are grown? That’s fine! But bear in mind that, someday when you sell, a lot of prospective Buyers will have schools in mind. A good school district helps with resale.
Being walkable to a school is a nice bonus. But, can you be too close to a school? Yes. A lot of people don’t want to be right in front of or beside elementary schools, in particular. If you drive by an elementary school before or after the bell goes, you’ll understand why. It’s nuts, I tell you. Nuts! There are so many cars, many of them parked out in front of homes for 40-50 minutes in advance. Until my own daughter went to school, I had no idea how busy and chaotic the drop-off and pick-up scenarios were.
Right by these schools, occasionally neighbour/parent relations get strained. As far as I can tell, this is usually because the parents are infringing upon the property of the home owners. I’ve seen parents block driveways or park well past stop signs, etc. It really frustrates the Home Owners and it might frustrate you, if you lived there!
We are fortunate. Most schools in Guelph have very good reputations. And, both school boundaries and principals and vice-principals change. There’s no guarantee buying a house in Guelph in a certain school district is a forever thing. Boundaries change and so can school reputations and rankings.
Being Mindful of Future Development
Home owners are understandably upset when green space near them is going to be developed, or a tree line behind their house gets cut down. I’ve learned that people don’t routinely ask questions about undeveloped land. Developers and Listing Agents aren’t going to draw your attention to a future development, but a good Buyer’s Agent will be on top of this. Always research any undeveloped areas around a home in Guelph to ensure there isn’t a high potential for things to change significantly.
If you’re buying a house in Guelph, a good rule is to assume that any vacant land, outside of that owned by the Grand River Conservation Area, is likely going to be developed. Further, don’t assume that, because you see only townhouses and houses nearby, that’s the only scenario for a new development. Rules change, variances are granted, and Guelph is mandated as a Places to Grow community. Large high-rises are coming to the city of Guelph – it’s only a matter of time. You probably don’t want one in your backyard.
It’s pretty obvious that homes on busy streets tend to sell for less and can take longer to sell in a balanced or down-turned market. The Buyer pool is lower, given safety considerations as well as downsides like road noise and light pollution.
I always suggest a good look around the neighbourhood. Do you see yellow or red flags? Are there a lot of run-down properties, or a higher-than-usual amount of ‘for sale’ signs?
Lots are a Consideration – So are Neighbours
As for the lot itself, how does it measure up? Does it feel too small? Could it actually be too big and cumbersome to manage? Some lot shapes – i.e. reverse-pie, where the majority of outdoor space is at the front of the house – can be pretty polarizing with Buyers. The same goes for corner lots. Many see those as a premium; others just see more sidewalk and yard to maintain, and increased street noise and light pollution.
Well, just as you don’t get to choose your family, you really don’t get to choose your neighbours… at least, sort of.
It’s worth looking to see how nearby homes are being maintained. Is the person right next door hoarding 20 tires and a bunch of garbage in his backyard? Does someone right across from you have a car that looks like it’s been on blocks for 50 years? Are there commercial enterprises nearby that you’re not keen on?
It’s important to understand that people move and businesses change, too. You can start out with awesome neighbours and things can deteriorate quickly when a home flips over. But, it’s at least reassuring when you can look at neighbouring homes and see pride of ownership.
Yes, location is the number one consideration when buying a house in Guelph, but as you can see there is a lot to think through on this one issue. A good Buyer’s Agent can be very helpful in ensuring that you think all of these considerations through, and help you land a home that checks all of your boxes… location included.
