Thinking of buying a house? The location is one of the most important things to consider. While there might be many choices, your location will be an urban or suburban area. So, should you buy a house in a city or suburb?
Where you buy your house will depend mostly on your preferences. Both the city and suburbs have their advantages. The city is closer to amenities, career opportunities, and property value increases faster. But the suburbs offer affordability, more space, excellent schools, and a serene environment.
Thus, you’ll need to consider your priorities when deciding where you want to get a house. You can do this using certain factors that depend on the house’s location. Here, we discuss where you should get your house by looking at the benefits of both urban and suburban areas.
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Difference between City and Suburb
It’s tricky to distinguish between a city and a suburb since many factors could come into play. It could be the geographical difference, such as when the city is the center of the metro area while suburbs are the city’s outskirts. It could also be in terms of the population density and average age of residents. In this instance, the city is densely populated, with many of those living there being people below 40 years, usually with no kids. Suburbs, in this instance, has lower population density, with most of the people there being above 40 and with kids.
Another way to differentiate between the city and suburb is the economic activity and general lifestyle. The city is the center of commerce and business, with a fast-paced lifestyle and several housing types. Suburbs has a slower pace, with most homes being single-family homes. In summary, a city is a mostly commercial area while the suburb is residential.
Why Live in The City
There are several benefits of living in the city, and they include:
1. Proximity To Amenities
The number benefit of living in the city is how close you are to the amenities you need. Whether transportation or healthcare, every facility is nearer when you live in the city. In most cities in developed countries, it’s possible for those living in the city are not to own a car since they can get anywhere they want with public transport. Commuting to work or other places is quite accessible for those that live in the city. It’s not only the basic amenities that city residents have access to. They also have incomparable access to entertainment amenities. Museums, galleries, cinemas, clubs, restaurants, bars, theaters, and more are usually in the city area. So those living here have the best access to all these facilities.
2. Career Opportunities
The city is the center of commerce for any area, so it’ll have the most employers. For residents of the city, this means having more career opportunities than those living in the suburb. They also don’t have to spend too much time commuting, going to work, or returning home every day. The convenience of living close to where you work is unrivaled, and this is something that most residents of urban areas will enjoy.
3. Better Property Appreciation Rate
Houses in urban areas also appreciate at a faster rate. When buying a home in the city, you’re not just buying where you want to live. You’re also buying the location. This is a very desirable location, meaning that the value of homes in the area will increase significantly over time. While this isn’t always the case, it usually applies in most cases.
Benefits Of Buying House in Suburbs
Suburbs are great residential areas, and owning homes in one can have several advantages. They include:
1. Affordability
Houses in the suburbs are usually cheaper even as the demand for homes increases. These areas are purely residential, meaning that you’re only competing with other people for the house and don’t have to grapple with major corporations who have the money to throw around. Of course, homes in suburbs are also expensive, and there are still corporate real estate investors trying to buy these homes, but they’re rarely as expensive as what you’ll get in urban areas.
2. Lots Of Space
Suburban areas offer lots of space for residents. Most homes here are single-family homes with big footage than what you’ll get with the apartments in the city. Beyond the indoor space, there’s the outdoor space which is equally wide. Most homes have a backyard and front yard. The streets are usually wide, with a limited amount of people on the street at any point. The less crowded streets are easy to walk, and the atmosphere is generally more pleasant.
3. School Environment
Suburbs are usually family-friendly neighborhoods. This is because many of them have excellent schools. Of course, this doesn’t apply everywhere, but it’s mostly the case. The lower population density also means most schools in suburban areas have fewer students, which means a lower ratio of student to teacher. This enables the students to interact more personally with their teachers, boosting their academic performance.
4. Relatively Peaceful and Quiet
Many people crave a quiet and peaceful life, and that’s one of the things you’ll get in most suburbs. The low level of economic and industrial activities in most suburbs means that no one is likely to disturb your peace. The crime rate is usually low due to the lower population density. This attracts many people to the suburbs as they try to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Noise and air pollution are less of a problem in the suburbs.
Factors To Consider When Buying a House
There are things you should consider when it comes to the location of your home. How you prioritize these factors can help you decide where best to buy a house. They include:
- Cost
- Space
- Accessibility
- Safety
- Infrastructure
- Schools and other facilities
In Conclusion
Both the city and suburb areas have their advantages. They are suitable for different categories of people, but it’s mostly a matter of preferences these days. The standards of homes in the city have greatly increased in recent times.
