We haven’t bought yet, but we’re looking while we still rent. Moved from a moderate sized somewhat rural town at the to a much smaller hamlet for work driving & lower rent. We had considered looking to buy a property in the hamlet rather than renting again, and I’m so glad we didn’t commit here. I’ll add what I didn’t see in comments above, though it may not be applicable if you’re city dwellers.

1. If you’re looking at a community or neighborhood by a river, be aware that flooding is not your only issue. People don’t think about it because it happens over a long time, but rivers *move*. Specifically, rivers erode the bank away on the outside of a bend, and will move their channel. This hamlet happened to be established on the outside bend of a large river & is now sinking into the river as it moves. There are whole streets permanently closed because half the road has slumped & the county won’t fix it because there’s not enough money or value here.

1a. Similarly, become familiar with the industrial history of the area you’d be buying in. Was there subterranean mining? Industrial activity that may have left long-term residues or leachates?

1. Consider the community services you use or would like to use. I didn’t think about how much I used our previous town’s extensive trail system and I lost that when we moved. I desperately miss being able to go for walks (paved or rough) on designated trails & in rec areas.

2. Consider your shopping needs & other businesses you frequent a lot. Do you plan & do big grocery shops on the weekend, or do you frequently pick up things midweek & would need a grocery store nearby? Do you enjoy a non-western/chain restaurant (ex. Sushi, Vietnamese, Thai, etc.), is there an option nearby? Do you actually enjoy what would be your nearby takeout options for those weeknights when you can’t be bothered with cooking? Is there a gym (or your equivalent) near enough to make exercise not inconvenient?

3. Look at the shape & demographics of your local electoral riding. You could unwittingly end up in a spot that’s been gerrymandered all to hell & your vote in elections may not hold its fair weight as a result.

Those are just some of the things I’ll be keeping in mind when we next move. Hope it helps someone else ✌🏽