Considering moving to a new neighborhood? Here’s a few things to consider.
- What type of home do you want?
Are you interested in a single family home? An apartment? Maybe a townhouse? Knowing what type of home you want can help you immensely in your search for a new neighborhood. Check out our article that discusses the different styles of homes.
- Do you want to be in a historic neighborhood or a new development?
Historic neighborhoods are beautiful and full of character but come with some drawbacks. Historic neighborhoods require a lot of repair work and are governed by community associations with strict standards. Newer developments may have more modern features but tend to be further away from the downtown area.
- What is your current community lacking?
Is there something that you really want that your current home doesn’t have? Consider whether you want to be near the water, if you want to be closer to shopping areas, if you want to be closer to your work, and similar factors. This will help to narrow down where you can, or want to, live.
- Do you have children or are you planning on having children anytime soon?
If you have children or you are planning to have children soon, an important part of finding a new neighborhood is looking at the school system. If you are single, a home in a good school system ups your property value. Additionally, you may also want to live closer to parks or areas with similar amenities your children can enjoy.
- How far are you willing to commute?
Think about how you want to get to places. Do you want to drive, walk or take public transportation to work? Think about how close the community is to shopping, banking, grocery stores, and other retail developments. If you don’t mind traveling, then you can consider homes that are further away from the downtown area, which also may end up lowering the price of the homes you look at. If you decide you want to be closer to amenities, simply look for houses that are closer to all the amenities that you deem necessary.
- What don’t you want in your neighborhood?
Just as important as all the things that you want in your neighborhood, it is equally important to think about what you don’t want. For example, if you don’t like late-night noise, try not to look at houses near a bar or college area. Any possible distractions in the neighborhood can make a great house turn sour, and fast. Spend some time in the neighborhood and listen for anything that you may deem annoying, such as traffic or loud music.
- Drive through the neighborhoods you’re considering.
When you have narrowed it down to a few neighborhoods, take a drive through each one to see which feels best. Try to picture yourself coming home after work and see how you feel. Take a walk around the neighborhood and see what amenities the neighborhood you want has. If you are going into an area with a homeowner’s association, don’t forget to consider HOA regulations (and fees!) when driving through the neighborhood.
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