How to Select the Right Neighborhood for You and Your Family

By Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), ASP, GRI, e-PRO

As a potential home buyer, you want to make sure that you are not only getting the best value for your money. You also want to ensure that you will be satisfied with your location as a new community resident.

When you decide to purchase a home, you have to determine where you want to live. Several factors may play into your decision, including both practical and emotional reasons. Selecting the right neighborhood for you and your family should be done with care. Here are tips to help to pick the right neighborhood for your next home.

As you explore various locations to buy a home, you may have many ideas in mind. Maybe you want to pick your dream location for your home. You may actually prefer to find a safe neighborhood with great schools and a decent commute time to work. Whatever your reasons for deciding on a particular location, you must sort out your priorities as you search for a neighborhood to live in.

As you ponder your situation, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have teens or young children living in your home?
• Do you have preferences as to the noise level of the area?
• Do you want a lot of land or parks and other green spaces to enjoy?
• Are you concerned about having a short commute to work?
• Will the neighborhood have your preferred amenities (shopping, daycare, groceries, dining, etc.)?
• What style of home do you want?
• What is your budget?

As you write down the answers to these questions, a clearer picture will emerge of your must-have elements for your new neighborhood. Some of the items may end up on your list only as features you would like to have but are not deal-breakers.

Families

If you have teens or young children living at home, a primary concern when selecting the right neighborhood for your family should be the local school system’s quality. If you plan to enroll your children in a private institution, you must also consider the distance between the new neighborhood and the school to shuttle back and forth between after-school activities and other events.

Make sure that you research local public and private schools. You should also explore daycare programs in the area. Crime statistics are also essential to look at for the safety of your family. The majority of real estate websites will be able to break down crime statistics by zip code to give you an idea as to how safe the area is compared to national statistics. If you would like more in-depth details on a particular area, you can ask your Realtor for assistance.

Setting

As you select a neighborhood for your home, you should envision what it would be like to live in that neighborhood. You may wish to choose a community based on the style of homes offered. You should also consider whether you prefer an urban or more rural setting for your home. The proximity of the neighborhood to a metropolitan area may significantly impact the average square footage. Some areas may have mostly single-family homes available compared to other communities that may have a larger percentage of multi-family dwellings.

You must also consider whether or not you want to live in a historic neighborhood or housing development. Both types of communities often come along with regulations put in place by local community associations that must be adhered to. This may also mean that you are required to do repair work on your home, as homes in historic neighborhoods may be of older stock.

Daily Routine

As you select your new neighborhood, you also want to think about your daily routine. Do you want to be able to walk places? Do you want a short commute to work? Ask your real estate agent about the public transportation options that will be available in your neighborhood, as well as access to major roads and highways.

By talking to people that have lived in the area, you can get a more accurate idea of what it will be like to live there as a resident. This is vital insight that can not be obtained simply by looking at neighborhood descriptions online. You can also use these experiences to determine if the neighborhood meets your expectations in terms of taste. Some home buyers may require more luxurious accommodations to be satisfied. Others may find the restrictions of planned communities not to be their preferences.

Budget

Budget will likely play a huge role in determining your final decision on the right neighborhood for your new home. However, working with a real estate agent can help illuminate the differences between two neighborhoods of relatively equal value. There is always a risk that you won’t get everything on your wishlist when you select a neighborhood. But when it comes to making sure that you stay within your budget, compromise is essential.

Opt for the neighborhood features that will guarantee a safe and enjoyable stay in your community while skipping out on those neighborhoods that are so pricy you will spend more time worrying about your finances than enjoying your new lifestyle. Plus, as you get to know the neighborhood, you may find that there are hidden amenities that you may have not been aware of.

Buying a property in the right neighborhood is a process that must be done with care. Talk with your real estate for more tips on selecting the right neighborhood so that you can be happy with your decision.