5 reasons to buy a home in Dartmouth this fall

Is it time to buy a home in Dartmouth?

When browsing websites and online window shopping, we can click the drop-down menu and filter our results. We can say that an item has to be a specific size, colour, and style. This narrows down our results until we find the item we were looking for. We set standards that things must meet in order to be eligible for our approval. When searching for the perfect neighbourhood to move into, we set some standards and filter our results.

This helps make sure that we aren’t wasting our time when looking for our dream property. A neighbourhood that many disregards in their search for a new home is Dartmouth. Many see it as a “grungy” area of Halifax, but in fact, it is flourishing and growing. Dartmouth is no longer a “lesser” option to living in Halifax and rather seen as an equivalent alternative to living in Halifax. Here are some reasons to buy a home in Dartmouth this fall.

Transportation

Dartmouth gives residents the flexibility to choose their mode of transportation. Residents that prefer riding the bus, can find buses commuting over to Halifax approximately every 15-20 minutes. For those that like the smell of salt air as they travel to work can enjoy a peaceful drive on the ferry over to downtown Halifax. The ferry goes from either the Alderney Landing or Woodside Terminal over to the Halifax Terminal near the Historic Properties.

Then residents can catch the bus for the rest of their commute from one of the many bus stops in the area. The buses running in the Dartmouth area also run frequently, averaging at every 15-20min. Buses run on many of the main roads in Dartmouth and travel across the bridge to Halifax. Moreover, the commute over the bridge is short and sweet. During rush hour, the commute over the bridge can still be done in under 10 minutes!

Affordable properties

Dartmouth has an array of properties that caters to all home owners. House hunters that have a tighter budget can find a home dancing around a sale price of $100,000 while still being close to all the amenities. Those that are able to spend a little more can find homes averaging around $250,000 and a high of $1 million. Home owners can enjoy all the amenities in the neighbourhood and have wicked views of downtown Halifax. Furthermore, there are many affordable homes that are within walking distance to downtown Dartmouth and the bus and ferry terminals.

Award-winning restaurants

You can’t go wrong with the food options in Dartmouth. You can get some of the best fish and chips in Atlantic Canada at places like John’s Lunch and Pleasant Street Diner. When you’re looking to dress up for a fine dining experience with cocktails and fancy meats, you may find yourself at The Press Gang. Dartmouth also doesn’t joke around with their coffee shops. Downtown Dartmouth has quaint little coffee shops with views of the waterfront where you can sip a cup of coffee and enjoy a pastry.

Education

Dartmouth schools are a part of the Halifax Regional School Board. According to grade 3 and grade 6 test results, the Halifax Regional School Board was one of the top districts in Nova Scotia. The top 10 schools out of the 95 tested for reading and math were located in the South End and Dartmouth. Colby Village, Portland Estates, Crichton Park, and Hawthorn were standout schools in the Dartmouth area for their test results.

The goal of the school district is to transform those “good schools” into “great schools” to close the gap for students that may be in more disadvantaged school communities. The district as a whole wants to work on phasing out academic standards that can cause a weaker work ethic, perseverance, and drive to succeed. Students in the Dartmouth area are fortunate to have staff that cares about changing the way we are teaching our kids. They are driven to shifting the way we are teaching in order to achieve the best academic success.

Home appreciation

The great thing about Dartmouth is its fantastic views of Halifax. The views stretch all along the downtown waterfront and into the neighbourhoods surrounding it. There are several opportunities to snag a property with amazing views of Halifax and the water. And you can get this all at an amazingly affordable value in Dartmouth. Moreover, homes in Dartmouth are seeing an increase in value. The demand for housing is strong, which means that the rate of home prices appreciating is increasing.

Dartmouth should no longer be seen as a grimy place to live. With fantastic amenities, reliable transportation, strong schools, and amazing home values Dartmouth is an exceptional place to live. When looking for advice on moving to the neighbourhood and becoming neighbors, talk to our local mortgage professionals about financing a mortgage! You can get in touch with us here.