A residential property - what makes it well-located

After a note on the prospects of the property market for Poland, some random musings over features a comfortable dwelling should have. I split my considerations into two posts, with the next one about the very property characteristics and today's post focusing on location only.

Experts in unison claim location is the core driver and property intrinsic value, since it cannot be subject to makeovers or refurbrishments. Valuation of a location might be triggered by changes in surrounding areas, which are beyond a property holder's control.

A good location for most people means access to transport links, including reliable public transport, paved roads in the countryside, lack of traffic jams or dual carriageway in the (not too close) vicinity. Commute times to workplaces and schools are usually the best benchmark for one's individual preference, however they might change over time (one day children finish school, you may change a job or your office might be relocated).

For me a decent location is the one where I am not car-dependent. Trips to work and getting about town should be convenient with public transport (cheap, reliable, frequently running), by bike or on foot. I am not giving up on motoring, yet the car should wait its turn for longer trips outside Warsaw and for situations when it is indispensable.

While living next to one of busier streets in Ursynów, with 4 lanes in both directions and drivers tending to speed through a section just outside my window, I got sensitive to noise. When buying a next property (most probably a bigger flat), I will strive to avoid dwelling where the level of traffic noise increases drastically after opening a window. Same goes about the air quality. In Warsaw, despite traffic-generated air pollution it is still far better than on the outskirts or in provincial Poland, where folks still incinerate whatever cheap they can to heat their houses.

Although online shopping is getting more popular, avoiding visits in grocery shops and supermarkets is impossible. A well-equipped shop in which most or all everyday needs can be met, located within walking distance from home is a vital determinant of a proper location.

Green areas - parks, forests, meadows in the vicinity are definitive upsides, but trees and grass instead of paved areas in the immediate neighbourhood appear equally important, especially when they give shelter from more and more frequent summer heat.

Needless to say each of us has amenities appreciated within walking distance from home. These include nursery and primary schools, bakeries, restaurants, hairdressers, health centres, community centres, playgrounds, swimming pools, gyms, libraries, craftsmen. The infrastructure for comfortable daily life also defines what the note is about.

Last, but not least (note the phase has been overused in essays written during high-school English classes), the housing density matters. It is not a pleasure to see your neighbour's dwelling from your window, not to mention other buildings take away sunlight, especially in autumnal and wintry months, when it is most yearned for.

Property prices generally tend to incorporate the factors above, but they are subject to fads. Some districts are considered prestigious, others unattractive, despite having all makings of a decent location. Some does of cool head and not following the crowd might help find a superior price-to-quality trade-off when searching for a place of residence.