Relocating To A Suburb? Check These Out First

Given the way our cities are expanding, living in suburban areas is the only viable option for the salaried middle class. Properties in downtown and sought after residential pockets of the city are sky high, and this is pushing home buyers to explore the periphery of the cities. The city municipal corporations and state governments also encourage home buyers to move to the suburbs by developing infrastructure so that these areas are liveable.

Developers of ongoing projects in India also explore the suburbs as larger land parcels are available for them to construct self-dependent residential communities.

If you are one of the many forced to move to the suburbs, then you can make the most of the situation in the following way.

1. Judge the infrastructural capacity

Not all suburbs develop at the same pace even in the same city. For instance, those near employment avenues develop faster than micro-markets which are further away. Therefore, prior to booking a flat, you should ensure that the suburb has adequate infrastructure to support your lifestyle. Some of the factors that you should check for are proper roads, sewage and garbage disposal systems, electricity and water supply, etc. Unless these amenities are in place, it makes little sense to invest in a property either for end use or for investment.

Do not judge the worth of upcoming apartments in India based on their location near a proposed metro station or approach road. More often than not, plans on paper are changed and you may suffer for this. If a particular project has commenced construction, you can still consider the area.

2. Distance from your workplace

After picking an area, you should make an assessment of how far it is from you and your spouse's workplace (if she is working). Some of the questions that you must ask yourself are -- how long will it take to go to work? Apart from your own car, is there adequate public transport services to take you to work? Will it be very expensive for you to commute to and from your workplace?

Currently, Indian cities have been gripped by the walk to work culture which dictates you to live near your office. Thankfully, employment hubs are coming up close to suburbs which make it easy to commute to offices.

3. Social amenities nearby

As families mostly prefer to live in suburbs, ensuring social amenities in the neighborhood is important. Grocery stores, schools, banks, parks and recreational zones are some of the facilities that you should be on the lookout for. Most developers now aim to provide these amenities within the complex so that owners of new apartments in India do not have to hunt for them outside residential projects in India. However, if your chosen developer does not offer these facilities you should ensure that they are located close to the community.

4. Safety

Ensuring your safety is one of the most important aspects of home hunting. There is no point in selecting an apartment in a completely cut off suburb or a secluded neighbourhood as it will compromise on your safety greatly. Not only that, you should also ensure that adequate security services are provided within the society such as security guards, CCTV cameras in strategic points, intercom connectivity and video door phones.