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There are many features to a house that are important to buyers - number of bedrooms, house size, lot size, degree of privacy, are all examples that I talk about with virtually every buyer.  From my perspective, as an expert in the Alberni Valley Real Estate market, nothing should be higher on the list then location. 

The location, which is the geographic relation of a piece of soil in relation to other amenities, is fundamental to a houses value.  It is also the one feature of a house that, for all intents and purposes, cannot be changed.  There are not "good areas" and "bad areas", there are simply many different locations with differing access to resources and amenities.  As an example, consider a 1/4 acre lot in Port Alberni's downtown district.  Much of the area is dominated by commercial zoning, and is in close proximity to industry.  It is a relatively good location for a store front, but not a great area to build a new home! 

From my perspective it is important that buyer's take the time to drive, or better yet walk, around a neighbourhood.  This is a great way to get an idea of the what the strengths of the location are.  What do they neighbouring homes look like?  How close is the location to shopping?  Schools?  Transportation?  Does the road get a lot of traffic?  All of these questions will get you thinking about the area, and how the type of house you are thinking of buying fits into that neighbourhood.  At any given price point there is always a trade off between location and the size/quality of the house.  Buying, a lot of house in a less than ideal location is perfectly fine, as long as you understand that this is the trade off you are making.

This advice becomes critical if you are moving to a new city and have very little experience with the differing locations.  Sometime in this circumstance, a buyer may purchase a home that appears to be in an area that appeals to them, only to find out years later that the area has a "reputation" in their new community.  Also worth keeping in mind is that these "reputations" can evolve, and it can be a good move financially to buy in an up and coming area.  When moving to a new city it is important to build a relationship with a Realtor that you trust, someone who will put your best interest above all else.