Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
The neighborhood you chose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety,
available amenities, and convenience all play their part.
Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly
and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each
neighborhood you’re considering to engage in your most common activities.
Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can
probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students
who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age
children, also considering paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods
you’re considering. Even if you don’t have children, a house in a good school
district will be easier to sell in the future. Another source is SchoolMatch
Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for
neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also
the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing
crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as
near a retail area? Another source is www.homestore.com
Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local
city economic development office to see if income and property values in the
neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to
apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but do mean a more
transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for
sale for months?
See if you’ll make money. Ask a local REALTOR® or call the local REALTOR®
Association to get information about price appreciation trends in the
neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this
information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. A
REALTOR® or the government planning agency may also be able to tell you about
planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or
highway—that might affect value.
See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods,
go there and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets
quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing
outside