Best Real Estate Locations for Investments and Quality of Life – Top 5 Criteria- March 13, 2009

 

USA TODAY SAYS:

 

Urban Construction Is Surpassing Suburbs Redevelopment of the urban core of more than half of the 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S. is a “striking trend,” says John Thomas, an EPA policy analyst and author of a report on housing trends.

Cities seeing the most urban growth include New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, Ore., Denver, Sacramento, Calif., Milwaukee, Wis., and Atlanta. These cities have captured a larger share of their region’s new residential building permits than suburban areas since 2002, the study reports.

Growth in urban areas didn’t take off until developers began to build the kinds of homes that appealed to buyers—homes close to public transportation in areas with lots of amenities that meet the needs of a changing population.

“Demographics have really changed,” says Dan Reuter, land use chief at the Atlanta Regional Commission. “People are waiting longer to get married, longer to have children, and once children are grown up, we’re living longer.”

 

Source: USA Today, Hava El Nasser (03/11/2009)

 

view from Sloan's Lake

 

 

 

eco-modpod says:

The real estate advice that I have been dishing out has always been to purchase an investment home:

 

1. close to city center / downtown / major business district (5 mile radius)

 

2. walking/biking distance to public transportation 

 

3. walking/biking distance to restaurants and shops 

 

4. short drive to major roads and highways 

 

5. walking/biking/running distance to parks

 

Not only do these five real estate investment criteria for location increase a homeowner’s quality of life, they also happen to be “green”.

 

Best up and coming Denver neighborhoods that meet these criteria?

1. West Wash Park

2. Sloan’s Lake

3. Berkely

4. West Highlands

5. Potter Highlands

6. University Hills

7. University Park

8. Capitol Hill

9. Cheesman Park

 

click here for map of Denver area neighborhoods

 

 

Best West Side Communities that meet these criteria?

1. Belmar

2. Lakewood Vista at Green Mountain Ranch

3. Golden

 

 

Click here for NEW info on the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credits and First-Time Homebuyer/owner definition.