Green space or hip coffee shops? Rate your neighbourhood priorities when buying a home here

We’re building a picture of what first-time buyers in Ireland today are looking for – and the help they need along the way.

BUYING YOUR FIRST home is an exciting time – but it is also a time when big decisions come thick and fast.

This autumn, we’re setting out to understand what first-time buyers in Ireland want, and what they need.

We want to know what you’re confident about, what you’re not so sure of, and what stresses you out. And we want to help along the journey, by providing the most relevant answers and the most informed advice.

Over the full series we’ll be tackling five key topics for homes on the market: price and quality; location and community; what’s inside; sustainability; and moving in. These align with the topics of a recent survey of first-time buyers on Daft.ie, which we’ll also be reviewing.

In our second article, we’re looking at location and community. What makes a town, neighbourhood or street right for you? And how can you look past first impressions?

Answer the questions below to build a picture of your priorities – and see how you compare to other first-time buyers. Each time you give a rating, you’ll see how your number matches the overall reader average.

First up: Finding the right area

In the Daft.ie survey, first-time buyers told us that they have two main priorities when choosing a location to buy in: being close to family, and being close to their workplace. How do each of these measure up for you?

How important is a location close to your family, on a scale of 1 to 10?

How important is a location close to your workplace, on a scale of 1 to 10?

Many people have seen their work patterns change this year, with home offices becoming a 'new normal' for some. Has the rise of working from home affected your priorities when it comes to location? Rate 1 for ‘not at all affected’ and 10 for ‘very significantly affected’.

Once you’ve narrowed your search to a handful of areas, you can start thinking about individual neighbourhoods. What do you want on your doorstep?

How much of a priority is it for you to have a variety of coffee shops, pubs or restaurants in the neighbourhood?

How much of a priority is it for you to have plenty of green space in the neighbourhood?

How much of a priority is it for you to have good public transport links in the neighbourhood?

How confident do you feel about finding a neighbourhood that meets your needs? Rate 1 for not at all confident, 10 for completely confident.

The right community

When you’ve identified one or more neighbourhoods to look in, it’s time to zoom in even further. Which are the best estates and communities?

One surprising result of the Daft.ie survey was that when first-time buyers were asked about indicators of strong local community (like residents associations and community events), most people rated them as unimportant.

How important is a strong local community to you, on a scale of 1 to 10?

One housing estate can be very different from the next. So what do you think of the estates you've considered or looked at so far? What rating would you give the quality in the market, on a scale of 1 to 10?

The research process

There are different approaches to finding out about the best neighbourhoods and communities. Which of these are you planning to try?

Will you chat to existing residents? Rate 1 for not at all likely, 10 for very likely.

Will you check local Facebook groups or discussion forums? Rate 1 for not at all likely, 10 for very likely.

Will you walk or drive around the neighbourhood in the early evening (when people are most likely to be out and about) to see what the atmosphere is like? Rate 1 for not at all likely, 10 for very likely.

So how did you compare to other first-time buyers? Are you right on the average, or out on your own?

Stay tuned for more articles in this series, as we’ll be bringing you expert advice and insights for each topic too.

At Glenveagh Homes, our vision is that everyone should have the opportunity to access great-value, high-quality homes in flourishing communities across Ireland. We understand that buying a home is possibly the biggest decision you will ever make in your life – but we want to make it your easiest. Click here to find out more about Glenveagh developments.

Green space or hip coffee shops? Rate your neighbourhood priorities when buying a home here

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