The place where we live and the people with whom we share our lives are the beginning and the core of our humanity. It’s how we learn to trust and value others, cherishing the spaces and values we share. A great part of a successful move is finding a good neighborhood. Choosing the right neighborhood for you and your family is just as important as choosing the right home. When buying a new home, remember that you are not just buying a home- you are also joining in and becoming a part of a neighborhood. Not all neighborhoods are created equal. Not all neighborhoods are going to be a truly perfect fit for everyone and their individual needs. There are many things that should be considered when purchasing a home, especially if you are moving to an area that you don’t know well. Before buying a property evaluate the aspects of a prospective neighborhood.

Make a list of your needs and wants

Think about what kind of atmosphere you are looking for. Do you prefer a community in the center of the city or a quiet neighborhood in the countryside or town? How important is it to have top schools in the area? Do you plan to drive or get public transportation to work? Are there shopping centers, restaurants, cinemas or parks nearby?

Find out whether it is suitable for your lifestyle

Have a walk in your prospective neighborhood streets. You will get the best information about the neighborhood from the people who live there. Do your own research by talking to the neighbors. Ask them if they like the area, what problems they have in the place. Ask them questions that concern you. Ask them about the advantages and disadvantages of the neighborhood. They can tell you things you’d never find out online. Walk the markets, shopping centers, restaurants, parks and all the other amenities that your neighborhood has to offer you. If you like an active life it should be important for you that there are cinemas, theaters, bars. Such entertainment could be the only thing that makes your neighborhood alive. If possible, try to visit different days and times. Find out if the streets are clean if the homes and yards are in a good condition if there are many people who live there, whether it is a quiet neighborhood or not. Imagine yourself living there. Once you feel comfortable with the area, you can feel more at peace about the home buying decision. In some neighborhoods, neighbors even don’t know each other’s names. In others, block parties make regular occurrences. Spending time in the target neighborhood you can find out if the place is suitable for you and our family.

Education system

Public and private schools, kindergarten through high school, and even preschools can greatly affect the value of a home. A good school should be a priority on anyone’s list. You should look at the quality of the school system of the neighborhood you are considering. If you have children or plan to have them, you will naturally want them to have access to the best education possible. There are several websites that can provide you with test scores and other important information about the schools. Also, local councils will generally tell you the precise catchment areas if you want to make sure your children get into it. But if you don’t have children and have no such plans, you should be aware that homes which are located in a good school district, as a rule, hold on to their value better than those in less highly regarded districts.

Transportation issues in the neighborhood

Transportation is a non- separable part of any society. It exhibits a very close relation to the style of life, the range, and location and the goods and services which will be available for consumption. Finding a home in a neighborhood that has convenient access to public transport is important but people sometimes forget to consider this as a crucial factor. When choosing a neighborhood,  find out how close it is to the nearest bus line, how long it takes to get to work, school and other regular destinations, how heavy the traffic is during the day. Basically, the farther you live from the bus line, subway or other means of transportation, the more important it gets to be very close and have easy access to the main junctions and routes. You can get anywhere you want in little time if you are near a train or bus.

Crime statistics

Crime statistics of the neighborhood make one of the most important factors when considering buying a home. Nothing is more important than the security and safety of your family. Many people worry about crime rates when they move into a new place. When driving through the neighborhood watch for the signs of vandalism. You can do a quick Google search for some information about the crime statistics in the neighborhood you want. The best way to find out detailed information about the neighborhood crime statistics it’s to contact the local police department with all your questions.

Property Taxes

For the information about the taxes, you can access the websites of the local municipality. Or find out from the real estate agent what the current tax rate is and how much it has increased in the last years, or whether there is another expected increase.

Affordability

Location is the factor that will definitely play a large role in calculating the property value. Each neighborhood has its own set of property values. This is an important aspect to look into for the location you consider. Compare the cost of living in our current neighborhood to that of the new one. Inform our real estate agent about your price range, so they can help you select the neighborhood that is the best for your financial needs.

Amenities

You need to make sure the neighborhood has access to the things you like to do. The amenities a neighborhood offers greatly depend on the neighborhood’s location. Think about what amenities you can and can’t live without. Think about amenities you would like to have nearby like grocery stores, coffee shops, pools, health and fitness centers, shopping malls.

By: Susanna Petrosyan 

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