How Transit, Drive Times, Public Transportation, & Nearby Roads Should Factor into Buying a Home

Location is everything when buying a home. Even if a house is perfect in every other way, poor access to public transportation options or long drive times could become a challenge. For this reason, home buyers must weigh all the factors before committing to the purchase to make sure they're getting the right place for their needs.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Drive Times

When commuting, long drive times can impact a homeowner's quality of life. In order to make sure the home they're considering doesn't tack a long commute onto their day, buyers can run the numbers well before putting in an offer. For example, they can input the home's address into a map and find the drive times to their work, school, or other daily destinations. Then, they can measure it against their current commute to make sure it won't be too long.

Public Transportation

Even if home buyers currently have a car, it's important for them to know what public transportation options are around the homes they might buy.

To find out if public transportation is readily available, home buyers can look up the bus and train schedules for their city. Then, they will want to find the closest pickup and drop off locations to the home they might want to purchase. They should also look at the pickup and drop off times to see if they align with their schedule.

Other Transit Options

Other transit options can work, but only if they are available. Using the addresses of their ideal homes for sale, home buyers can look at local taxi companies and rideshare providers to see if transit is available there. Buyers should also make sure that regular or occasional rides will work with their budget.

If none of these investigations reveal ideal results, home buyers may want to adjust their search area while looking for homes for sale. 

Nearby Roads

Nearby roads also have an impact on the homeownership experience, so they are well worth considering. While deciding whether to put in an offer on a property, home buyers should look at a map and visit the location to see what roads are around.

During their visit, they can watch the traffic moving through the area to see if the neighborhood is used as a regular passthrough, and to see if any times of the day get heavy traffic.

Beyond that, buyers should also look at where the local freeway access points are in relation to each home. When it comes time to drive onto the freeway, it is beneficial to have on ramps within at least a few miles of the home. Otherwise, it could take even longer to get to destinations that require a trip on the freeway.

By taking all these factors into account, it's easy for buyers to find the ideal location to purchase a home. Then, they can start looking in that area for a place that will meet all their needs.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.