We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic is how important our homes are to us. And how we use our homes has changed a lot over the last nine months, from remote work to homeschool, movie nights to socially distanced outdoor meetups.
For some, it’s not just the walls that comprise the home that deserved a reevaluation, for many it was where the home was located. In a recent feature by The Wall Street Journal, recent homebuyers confirm that as much as what the home looked like, the attitude of their neighborhood had increasingly informed what they desired in a home.
Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty broker Helen Pederslie spoke to WSJ, as did her clients, about their motivation for finding a new living situation in Kirkland, Washington. “A lot of people can’t stand where they’re living now. They want to feel part of a community,” Pederslie told WSJ.
A RSIR real estate agent can help set you up for success when you’re looking to join a new community. Whether that’s point you in the direction of neighborhood Facebook groups, or driving or walking around a neighborhood that you’re getting serious about. However, as a part of The Fair Housing Act, agents are prohibited from discrimination in housing based on race, religion and other factors. “That means agents can’t give clients any information about the neighbors’ race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or familial status,” as the WSJ point out.
Helen’s clients, who had rented in West Seattle and Green Lake, felt estranged from their neighborhoods once they were home full time. It changed their perspective. When they found their new home, neighbors were outside in conversation and they easily joined in. Along with other neighborhood amenities, it felt like the right fit.
Learn more about this real estate journey at WSJ.com>>
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