If you’re thinking about moving, before you start house-hunting, it’s always a good idea to visualize your ideal next residence. Your dream home, as they say, and everybody’s is different.
Sometimes, extremely different. Dream living for some urban home owners is living high up in an apartment with a view of a city or, especially in the Lower Mainland, the water or mountains — or both. Others see a slice of utopia in the countryside, far from the hustle bustle of the city and with few, or distant, neighbours — wide open spaces.
Many others find happiness with something between.
The pandemic has fuelled the extremes of dream homes, contributing to what has been called an exodus to the wide open spaces and the perceived safety that comes with them. A part of that is the ongoing work-from-home movement.
In addition and as a rule of thumb, one of the advantages of living in the country is more bang for your buck, a bigger home than you can buy for the same price in the city or its suburbs. Other advantages are being closer to nature, peace and quiet and, possibly, a lower cost of living.
In addition and as a rule of thumb, one of the advantages of living in the country is more bang for your buck, a bigger home than you can buy for the same price in the city or its suburbs. Other advantages are being closer to nature, peace and quiet and, possibly, a lower cost of living.
Conversely, city living advantages are or can be proximity to services and amenities (ranging from emergency to doggy daycare and shopping), proximity to work and being energized by being around lots of people, and more choices for things like the number of suitable properties to restaurants and entertainment.
When it comes to changing your way of living, dreaming is always a good place to start.