Choosing a Neighborhood
When choosing your new home it is important that before your choice of home is made you choose the right neighborhood. When discussing your needs with your agent be clear on your needs and expectations. The following list of considerations should be fully discussed with your agent in addition to your own review.
Location: Is the area an older built up area or is it a newer area with additional vacant land surrounding it. What is the zoning on the vacant lands and what if any development plans are in place? Speak to area residents and local media to determine if there are any environmental issues or other issues in the area.
Schools: If you have children, the distance to their school is an important consideration. Speak with the school board to determine where the school ranks in test scores. Determine bussing policies and number of students. In a new development request information on schools that are planned.
Transportation: Determine availability of local public transit, proximity to major highways, proximity to grocery shopping and general shopping and availability and accessibility of recreational facilities and other services.
Services: Check availability of medical facilities. Can you get a doctor and dentist, are there medical clinics and is there a hospital nearby?
Appearances: Explore the neighborhood, if you have a home in mind how does it compare to the surrounding area? How well is the neighborhood kept? Are there signs of neglect, i.e. overgrown lawns and gardens, homes in need of paint, littered yards, crumbling driveways, old cars or other junk stored on properties . No matter how much you invest in the maintenance and upkeep of your property, if the entire neighborhood is not doing the same thing your property values will be affected.
Crime Rate: Check with local police to find out if the neighborhood you are considering is safe. Find out how many incidents occurred over the last year and if the area has been home to grow houses.
Property Values: In addition to the appearance of the area investigate the history of property values in the area. Your agent can provide you the current and historic price trends in the area.
Utilities: The cost of utilities and fuel are becoming greater factors in choosing where to live. As gas prices increase commuting can become costly. Other fees for water, garbage removal, electricity, natural gas can vary greatly between areas.
