While the real estate market has changed in myriad ways over the past decade, the mantra "location, location, location" has not. Location is tied closely to value, so buyers have become even more interested in purchasing in a desirable area.
"Location has become even more important recently than it used to be, with buyers wanting to be near the city or at least near some kind of public transportation," says Gary Rogers of Re/Max on the Charles in Waltham, Mass. "We're seeing empty nesters move into Boston while 20-something and 30-something buyers are moving just outside the city in order to afford to buy."
In San Francisco, Ben Coleman, broker/owner of Century 21 Hartford Properties, says living within walking distance to amenities and to public transportation is the No. 1 priority for most buyers.
"We talk about Walk Score all the time now, which tells you how close a particular home is to things like a coffee shop, a grocery store, and a bus or subway stop," Coleman says.