Becoming a homeowner is about more than finding a great house. In a perfect world, your dream home will also be located in your dream neighborhood. And while it may not always be a perfect world, that doesn’t mean you can’t have both.
When you’re looking at homes, it’s important to consider the surroundings as well as the amenities of the house itself. Here’s how to make sure your new home is in the perfect neighborhood for you.
- Make a list.
Ask yourself what you want to have in the general area of your new home. Maybe you’d like to have lots of nightlife options nearby, or perhaps you’d prefer to live on a quiet street far from all that hubbub. It could be that you want to have the mall nearby, or a quiet coffee shop to walk to, or a park next door where you can walk your dog. Write down a solid set of “must-haves” and “would-like-to-haves” so you can evaluate the neighborhood. - Compare types of homes.
Do you see yourself buying a historic house, or living in a newly built condo? Older houses are typically located closer to city centers with all the amenities of downtown close by, while new constructions are more often located in suburban areas. - Think of the children.
Do you have kids? Can you see yourself having them while you live in your new home? That can add a whole new set of requirements, like having great schools and parks nearby and paying extra attention to neighborhood safety. - Consider the commute.
Everyone has their own definition of what constitutes a doable commute. Maybe you don’t mind driving an hour to and from work every day, or maybe you want to walk just down the block to your office. Either way, be sure to consider how much travel time you’re willing to spend going to and from work. - Go exploring.
When you find a house you like, it’s time to put boots on the ground. Online tools like Google Maps are great for getting a general idea of what you can expect to find in the vicinity of the house, but there’s no substitute for exploring the area in real life. Take a walk and go for a drive around the neighborhood to see how it feels in person. - Look and listen.
Don’t stop at a visual assessment of the neighborhood; it’s also important to listen. If you hear barking dogs, traffic from the nearby interstate, or party noise, you’re probably going to be hearing them for years to come, so make sure you’re okay with that. - Check out other houses.
Look at all the homes on your block, not just the one you want to buy. If you see well-kept homes with clean, tidy yards, that’s a sign that it’s a neighborhood where the residents take pride in home ownership. It’s also a great idea to talk to some of your future neighbors and get some honest opinions about the neighborhood. - Ask yourself what’s missing.
Is there something specific that your current home doesn’t offer? It could be that you’re landlocked and always wanted to live near the beach. Or maybe you like to bike around, but live in a very un-bike friendly neighborhood. Look for a place to live that offers the things you want, but don’t currently have.
Whether you’re looking for your next home or your first home, a lot of different considerations come into play. Be sure to look beyond the walls of your house itself, and find a neighborhood that you can call home for years to come.
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