Buying property in a new city

Finding a new home in a different city can be an immensely stressful undertaking — but it doesn't have to be. Finding the home of your dreams in Cape Town, for example, when you are over 1 000km away in Johannesburg or Durban, poses a challenge. The good news, however, is that our Jawitz Properties team is always on hand to help you find your your new home.

The first step in this long-distance property search is the same as the first step in any other property search — you'll need to browse properties available in your new area online and sign up for the area/suburb alerts on real estate agencies' websites as well as property portals. The ideal search for your new home starts here, and once you've typed in your price parameters and indicated the type of property that will suit your family's needs, you'll be on your way to finding your new home. Before you make your final decision on what you can afford, bear in mind that the cost of living may be higher (or lower) in your new city than what you have been accustomed to.

Once you've found a property that ticks all your boxes, make contact with the estate agent who is selling that particular property and tell them what you're looking for. They may be able to point you in the direction of other similar properties and suburbs that you should be looking at. A Jawitz Properties estate agent will go out of his or her way to help you and, given that you are far away, having someone on the ground to assist you in your real estate journey will be invaluable.

Since estate agents are experts in the areas in which they sell property, he or she will be able to give you the low down on the pros and cons of the neighbourhood, as well as information about the best schools, the most convenient shops and the closest hospitals. They'll also be able to fill you in on everything else you may need to know about in order to make an informed decision.

Over and above relying on your estate agent for information about your new area, it's important to do your own research. Check out the local online community newspaper and join local social media groups to get a feel for the area you are considering investing in.

Since the time you have available to look at potential homes in your new area will be limited, it's important to pay attention to detail when deciding which properties you're going to visit. Property listings on the Jawitz Properties website provide a wealth of information, including a wide selection of photos and videos of the home as well as details about how many square metres the home and the land (if applicable) covers. The listing will also tell you how many bedrooms and bathrooms there are, as well as how much parking and how many garages are available. As an added bonus, it will also show you a map of the area to help you ascertain the exact location of your potential new property. This will allow you to quickly weed out properties that won't meet your needs or are unsuitable.

Know in advance what your non-negotiables are. What is the minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you and your family need? Does your new home need to have a big entertainment area? Is a big kitchen important to you? Is there good security? Even if you find a property you love, it's not worth looking at if it doesn't tick off every item on your non-negotiables list.

Even if you have to wait for an opportunity to go and actually see the properties you are considering buying, it's important to think about what you want from your new home. If you or your partner travel for work a lot, it will be well worthwhile to find out how long it would take you to get from your prospective new neighbourhood to the airport. If you have children, you can use this time to research schools in close proximity to your potential home and ensure that you've found the best possible option for them.

Finding your next home can be a challenge — and it's an even greater challenge when you're doing it from far away. By doing the groundwork correctly and enlisting the help of one of Jawitz Properties dedicated real partners, it is possible to find the perfect match from a distance.