Boise Real Estate Source

 A few nights ago my husband and I wanted to end our evening with a glass of wine and one of my favorite films, Once (if you haven't seen it, check it out, it's delightful).  The trouble was, we didn't have a bottle of wine.  So, at 9:30pm I jumped in the car and drove to the local Boise Paul's grocery store to pick one up.  It's only about a two minute drive and is also within walking distance.  As I drove there I thought to myself how nice it is to have that store so close by and that if my husband and I ever move to the outskirts of town on an acreage like we want to we will have to plan a little bit more in advance.

 photo courtesy of John Kasawa / freedigitalphotos.net

These are the things you sometimes don't thing about when choosing a home to purchase.  But you should  Your home isn't just about the granite countertops and hardwood floors, or the number of beds and baths.  It's about your lifestyle.  That's why the old real estate mantra, "location, location, location" rings true.  That's why downtown Boise's North End tends to be more expensive for housing that other parts of town.

Do you like to go to parks?  Maybe you should consider being close to a city park or live in a subdivision that has them. 

Would you like to walk your kids to school?  There are a lot of homes with schools nearby.

Are you forgetful (or busy) like me and sometimes need to pop over to the store for an ingredient you are missing?  I can help you find a home with a corner store.

Do you want to walk and ride the greenbelt regularly?  Maybe living 30 minutes away from it is a mistake.

Are you an avid gym-goer?  Having one near your home can save you loads of time (it adds up driving back and forth from the gym).

Keep in mind that businesses do come and go so you don't want to choose your home exclusively because it is next to your gym or favorite coffee shop because next week it could go out of business.  It shouldn't be your deciding factor but it could be a piece of the pie.

But, with that in mind, think about not only what you require in terms of home criteria and square footage and think about what you are going to be doing on a regular basis - or what you WANT to be doing.  And add that to your criteria.

Your home isn't just about the inside.  It isn't just where you eat and sleep.  It is the hub of your whole life.