S An editorial comment from Henry Man, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Property Management, Concord Pacific Group Inc.   Since Real Estate is the largest single investment most people will ever make -- it pays to be well informed before making a decision to purchase. No matter where you choose to live, there are some very important points anyone purchasing a home should consider.   There is no question that location remains the single most important factor when choosing a home. Your lifestyle will determine the best place to live for you and your family. Some people prefer the suburbs while others thrive on downtown living. If you are inclined to favor the many benefits the city has to offer -- you should research what part of the city suits you best. Are you looking for a hustle and bustle atmosphere or is a quiet neighbourhood within walking distance to downtown more your style.   After choosing your location, an important consideration is the reputation of the developers and homebuilders in your neighbourhood. This choice is key since the quality and design of your home has to be something you are proud of and comfortable to live in. Track record, vision for the future, quality of past projects, customer service, ability to meet deadlines and an understanding of the marketplace are all key issues to factor into your decision making process when choosing a developer or home builder.   Equally important is finding a place where the sense of community fits your needs and lifestyle. A community means different things to different people but usually includes schools, daycare facilities, community amenities, transit, as well as lots of green space to pursue your outdoor pastimes.   On a more technical side, you want to ensure your new home is wired for the future. Look for a connection to a world of information through sophisticated fibre optic high speed Internet access and cable programming. For work, education and entertainment, and an overall enhanced quality of life, you will need and want to have the most advanced technology at your fingertips.   A key factor to enhance your lifestyle can be an expanding retail and commercial sector. This includes having the amenities and day-to-day living requirements close-by for easy access. For city-dwellers, this usually means shops, restaurants, banks and grocery facilities within walking distance to their homes. Many people abandon their vehicles when they have the opportunity to walk to shopping and entertainment facilities.   These are some of the steps you should seriously consider when making the important decision of purchasing a home. At Concord Pacific we have tried to incorporate many of these ideas and concepts into our master-planned community.   As you evaluate your personal housing options, you may find Concord Pacific Place to have many of the attributes you have been searching for. I encourage you to come down to the north shore of False Creek to view the community during a stroll along the seawalk. While you are in the neighbourhood, visit our Presentation Centre to get a full sense of the community. We would be pleased to share with you the vision and reality of Concord Pacific Place.   If you have any questions regarding purchasing a home or would like more information on Concord Pacific Place please feel free to contact me at (604) 681-8882 or henrym@concordpacific.com S