Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
The neighborhood you choose 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 engaging 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
consider 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.
- 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?
- 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 they 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 REALTORÒ
or call the local REALTORÒ
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 REALTORÒ
or the government planning agency also may 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. Are they
friendly? Are their children to play with your family?
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