Picking the right neighborhood can be half the battle when you’re buying a home. You want to find a community that is ideal for your family, your future, somewhere that is safe, and somewhere that is close to all the things you need.
There are certain things to look for when buying your dream home, and part of that includes searching for a neighborhood that meets your needs. Having the amenities that are important to you close by could make all the difference.
Depending on your lifestyle and your priorities, a neighborhood that is perfect for you may be considered undesirable for someone else. It’s essential to keep your ideal amenities for your life and situation a priority. Here is a brief guide on buying a home that includes an outline of the main things to consider when looking for your next community to settle down in.
Your Current Family
If you’re single or have a spouse and you are planning on staying that way for a while, a neighborhood that is suitable for families with children might not be ideal for you. Examine your current family situation before you begin researching communities. Choosing an area based on your commute to work or how close it is to the nearest shopping center might make more sense than choosing based on the best schools in the area.
Your Future Plans
While it’s impossible to tell the future, even though we wish we could, if you are planning on having a family, this can help you narrow down potential neighborhoods. Last thing you want is to buy a place then soon after have to start planning to relocate to a new area or neighborhood. Amenities like daycares, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools are necessary to have close by if you plan to have kids.
Being close to parks, playgrounds, and other fun outdoor activities can be a significant part of the community for your future family.
Affordability
It would be best if you choose to purchase a home within your financial means, so finding a neighborhood that supports your budget is a must. If you’re looking to spend a smaller amount on your new home, you wouldn’t want to choose a luxury neighborhood.
While you want to stay within your budget, you want to make sure the neighborhood is clean and attractive, because that means the residents care about where they live and how it’s represented. This can be great for your resale value later on as well!
Accessibility
Being close to grocery stores, a mall, a pharmacy, restaurants, and things to do can make a neighborhood attractive to homebuyers. You don’t want to have to drive 20 minutes to get groceries or pick up your prescriptions, so having these amenities in your community is hugely convenient.
If you have access to the library, community centers, recreation centers, and the gym, your area is better equipped to have a positive effect on your mental and physical health, and will help keep you and your family active and healthy.
Safety
Of course, everyone wants to feel safe and comfortable in their communities. Online resources like Neighborhood Scout can help you determine the crime rate in your potential neighborhoods.
When you are beginning the research phase of buying a home, pay attention to the news to determine where a lot of the crime happens in your city. There are often social media groups and forums you can join where you can discuss these issues with residents of an area or your neighbors. You can even get a recommendation from your realtor about the safest communities in your city.
Walking vs. Driving
Some communities are more walkable than others, and some make driving a complete hassle. If you walk everywhere, you will want to choose a neighborhood that isn’t difficult to get around on foot. If you have kids, you may be okay with them taking a school bus, or if you want them to walk to school, that will be a determining factor of your ideal community. If you don’t want to take transit yourself, you will need to find a neighborhood close enough to your work as well.
If you are a driver, you don’t want to choose an area that is more accessible by foot. However, this creates a bit of flexibility for you. You can be a little further from work or school, so your options aren’t as limited.
Transit Accessible
Having a home that is easily accessible to public transit can be a huge benefit, even if you’re not a transit-goer yourself. If you decide a decade from now you want to up or downsize, or you want to rent out your home, being transit accessible is a plus for many renters. No one who takes a bus to work wants to walk 25 minutes to the nearest bus stop and have to take several buses just to get to work and back each day.
How Developed is it?
Is the area up-and-coming? If you’re buying a brand new construction home in a brand new neighborhood, it might be hard to gauge what amenities will be eventually popping up in the area. If you’re close enough to amenities in a neighboring community, that could be a viable option for you. Oftentimes, trendy local businesses, grocery stores, and other great amenities pop up in these areas, but it will likely take some time.
If you’re looking at an older, more established neighborhood, it’s not likely that much will change, apart from the local businesses moving in and moving out. Depending on your preferences, either of these areas is an excellent option for different reasons.
Things to Consider
Additional things to consider when choosing a neighborhood are the red flags of the community. Are there a lot of vacant homes? How long are homes on the market before they sell? Is there constant construction in the area? Are there a large number of rental properties in the area? Are the properties well taken care of?
Some of these may not be huge red flags, but they can paint a picture of what life will be like if you choose that area. Buying a home doesn’t have to be a permanent decision. Still, you are typically putting down roots if you decide to purchase, and you likely don’t want to move again in a couple of years.
An area that may have been considered bad or unkept in the past might be a thriving area today, so you may have to review your preconceived notions about a neighborhood you may have heard not-so-great things about. If new businesses are moving in, renovations are happening, and infrastructure is being updated, you could be coming across a gold mine of a community that everyone will want to move to in a few years, which presents you with potential for a great return on investment.
If you know people who currently reside in neighborhoods you are interested in, ask them their honest opinion of the area, including what they like and what they don’t. Some of it may align with your priorities.
When you work with a realtor with experience, they will be able to help navigate you in your decision. They can provide advice and information about neighborhoods you might be interested in. A realtor is one of the best assets you can have on your side when you’re looking for a new community to call home.
Choosing a community doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Look at your lifestyle, your family, and what is important to you, and you should be able to narrow your list down quickly.
Sources:
https://loans.usnews.com/when-house-hunting-how-to-assess-a-neighborhood
https://mchb.hrsa.gov/nsch/2011-12/health/child-familys-neighborhood/neighborhood-amenities.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-spot-the-next-up-and-coming-neighborhood-in-your-city-2018-1
Author Bio:
Kurtis Forster is a real estate agent for Team Forster in London, Ontario. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate.
