Although the size, style and price of a home will be key factors in your decision to buy, most realtors will tell you it's the location of your new home that's most important.

One of the many valuable services a realtor provides is helping homebuyers find that right neighbourhood. They will work with you to develop a list of "needs" and "wants" to ensure you will be happy.

What are you looking for? Obviously your budget will play a large role in determining where you end up buying. For example, $200,000 will buy a lot more house in the country than it will in the city. But other things will factor in, such as the style of home you want, desired features and amenities. It's a good idea to write down everything you need and want in your new neighbourhood and create a checklist to take with you.

Some of the key questions a realtor will ask you include:

- Do you need to be close to your workplace or are you willing to commute?

- What type of home are you looking for? If you want a larger home, you may need to look at the suburbs. Or if you want a big property with room to move around, you may need to consider a rural community.

- Do you need to be close to a major hospital, school or place of worship?

- What is your main mode of transportation?

Do you need easy access to public transportation or would you like to be able to walk to the corner store?

- What activities are you involved in? Do you want the quieter lifestyle of a rural setting or do you prefer the action of a larger city?

Your realtor can take this information and begin matching it to qualifying neighbourhoods.

Once you've located the neighbourhood you want, spend some time there to get a "feel" for it. If you like it there, you're ready to have your Realtor show you available properties. He or she will develop a "short list" of homes.

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Ann Vozza is president of the Windsor-Essex County Real Estate Board. Phone 519-966-6432.