Finding Your Perfect Home in a New Community
As you start to look into buying a new home, you know that choosing the right community will be one of your most important decisions.
This choice will affect many things: your commute time, the school your kids will go to, and how easy it is to pick up a forgotten item at the grocery store. While there are a lot of great communities throughout Winnipeg, it’s important to find one that’s going to be a good fit for you.
Take some time to really think about what you want, then use that list to narrow down your choices.
Home Style
It’s important to start with some sense of the type of home you want because this can limit your options. For instance, certain communities only build single-family detached homes, so if you’re thinking about a more affordable option like a duplex, you wouldn’t be able to build in one of those communities. Likewise, a community focused on bungalow-style homes won’t allow you to build an expansive estate-style home.
Your family's needs will determine what style of home you should look at and that in turn can affect the community you choose. Make sure you do some research. For example, in Prairie Pointe, you have a choice of 2-storey, bungalow, or cabover homes, which means more options for a floor plan to suit you perfectly.
Additionally, communities often have regulations pertaining to the “look” of the homes built there. If you have a strong preference for the outside design of the home, you’ll want to take this into consideration.
Community Design
You’ll also want to look at the design of the community as a whole. Walking trails can be a good way to stay fit and active without paying extra money for a gym membership. Playgrounds are the perfect place to meet up with friends. If these things are important to you, you’ll want to look for communities that feature these amenities and that have available lots near the things you want access to.
Other things you might look for in the community’s design are the size of the lots, proximity to natural lands, or easy access to major roads.
So! Let's say your family loves to get out and walk after dinner - Bridgwater Trails offers you over 30 kilometres of walking trails. Maybe you're looking for a larger lot? Check out Grande Pointe Meadows.
Broadview builds in 10 different communities throughout Winnipeg, and community planning is a major component when we choose where we're going to build.
Good Schools
Every parent wants to see their child in a good school. Fortunately, Winnipeg’s public school system has plenty to offer, and your children will get a good education wherever you live.
However, if you have your eye on a particular school, such as a Montessori school or another type of private school, you will want to look at communities that are nearby.
Devonshire Park has quite a few schools close by, as does Ridgewood West.
Some families also appreciate moving into communities where new schools are planned. While the new school won’t have an established reputation, you can be certain the facility itself has all of the latest features.
Commuting and Amenities
Most people want a home that’s conveniently located. You’re likely to prefer a home with a 15-minute commute to work rather than one with a 45-minute one! Some people simply want to be near a public transportation line. Canterbury Crossing is just minutes away from the perimeter highway which makes commuting extremely easy.
Of course, in some cases, a community that’s perfect in many other ways may be worth a longer commute. It’s all about what’s most important to you.
You’ll also want to see how close you are to the nearest grocery store and other amenities that matter to you.
When it comes to amenities, you need to decide which ones are key for your family. If you want to be close to medical care, check out Aurora at North Point, with the Seven Oak General Hospital less than 10 minutes away. Sage Creek offers a full range of amenities like a Sobey's and a variety of restaurants if you like to eat out!
Brand-New Communities vs. More Established Communities
People can have strong opinions on whether they want to build in a brand-new community or one that’s more established. The biggest advantage of an established community is you’re definitely close to amenities and everything around you is already developed.
However...
The advantages of a new development can't be overlooked!
You have better lot choices and can often get good deals because of builder promos (do your homework on promos!) and home builders are working to establish the community. Another thing to keep in mind is that new neighbourhoods are planned out before they break ground on the first lot. Walking trails, ponds and parks are all built into the plan.
Commercial developments also love new communities. An influx of families means a strong customer base for them. Amenities tend to go up quickly around these areas.
Community “Feel”
Different communities tend to have different types of personalities. It’s important to find your place. For instance, if you have kids, you’ll want to look for a family-friendly community with playgrounds and bike trails. Some communities appeal more to retirees looking for a bit of quiet.
As we mentioned above, there is a lot of planning that goes into a home development. For example, Bonavista has lakes and parks within the neighbourhood, and the Lindsey Wilson park and splash pad are just next door! Nature-lovers should take a look at Sage Creek - 66 acres of native landscaping and 9 kilometres of walking trails to enjoy.
The best way to sample the feel of a potential community is to spend some time walking around it. Head into the neighbourhood and get a feel for the streets, the communal areas and find out if you can see you and your family fitting in there.
Lot Styles and Placement
Take a look at the community maps and the styles of the lots available. The “pie-shaped” lots that you’ll find at the end of a cul-de-sac tend to be larger than other types of lots, so they’re perfect if you want a big backyard for entertaining.
Some people care more about the lot’s location in the community – you might prefer one that’s next to the playground or far away from the playground.
Premium lots come with a slightly higher price tag, but they’re worth the extra expense.
Talk to a home builder agent to get the details on how lot selection works. They have plenty of experience and will help find the best one for you.
Home Availability
Building a brand-new home is fun, but it does take time. In most cases, the timeframe of a new home build is around ten months from start to finish.
If that’s too long to wait there are other options to fit your needs. Take a closer look at communities with quick possession homes that are move-in ready or close to completion. These homes are brand new and come with all of the warranties and modern features sought after in a brand-new home. For anyone on a short timeline, this is the perfect solution.
Finding the right community for you takes a bit of time, but it’s an exciting search and one you'll appreciate for many years to come. Don’t be afraid to explore all of your options before making your decision.
Originally published May 1, 2017, updated Nov 4, 2019.
