Buying a home is arguably one of the biggest decisions we will ever make. The process can often seem a little daunting at first, especially for those who are first-time home buyers: where to buy, what neighbourhood, what to buy, when to buy – all relevant ponderings that can (and will) be answered in time, rest assured. Similarly, when it comes time to choosing a home that is best suited for your family, there are also a lot of factors to consider – some of which can seem a little overwhelming. We do, however, all go through it and the process can, in fact, be a seamless one.

How do you choose which neighbourhood is right for you?

Of course, it often goes without saying that the further you and your family are from the heart of your city, the lower the crime rates, the larger the lot sizes, and the cheaper the real estate properties will be; and that’s not all you’ll likely find in your “google” search. If you have children who are at that age where you need to start thinking about their education, for example, certain areas will probably be preferred over others. After all, according to the Article Where to live in Ottawa “areas around good schools are often among the best to live anyway”. The Fraser Institute is one of the best resources that you and your family can use when it comes down to finding the right school for your children – and although not all parents will tend to agree with ranking schools based solely on their academic performances, the Institute is a great place to at least start.Living in Canada has put together a list of, what they consider to be, the best neighbourhoods. Among them, West-Carleton March with the lowest crime rate, and home to one of the city’s best secondary schools, West Carleton Secondary School.  In addition to West-Carleton, Kanata North is ranked very highly in education, as well as in commercial accommodation in the Kanata Research Park . In fact, Earl of March Secondary School and All Saints Catholic High School are both rated extremely high, according to the Fraser Institute.

Always remember that when finding a home in a neighbourhood that is best suited for your family and their needs, it’s important to conduct proper research, and to be sure that what you’re searching for accommodates everyone in your household. With the amount of different neighbourhoods that Ottawa has to offer, there’s bound to be one that’s out there for you.