Before you even start looking for your dream home, it may bode well to first choose a neighborhood that caters to yours and your family’s wants and needs. The last thing you want is to fall in love with a house and then realize when it’s too late that the neighborhood was not what you expected it to be. Along with choosing a house, you should also consider, “Which neighborhood is right for me and my family?”
So how do you go about choosing a neighborhood? There’s a little more to it than driving through it with your windows down.
Consider the following tips to make sure the neighborhood you are considering is the right one for you.
Make lists.
First, make a list of the qualities you do want in a neighborhood (i.e. large sidewalks, parks, etc.). Then, do the opposite. Write down what you don’t want in a neighborhood (i.e., not by a busy intersection, houses not too close together, etc.) These lists will act as go-to references when it comes time to compare and contrast the different neighborhoods you are looking at.
Use the internet.
Use the internet to look up as much information as you can about a neighborhood. Find out crime statistics, proximity to municipal facilities and any other public information about the area itself.
Check out neighborhood amenities.
If the neighborhood has a homeowner’s association, what does it include? Does it have a pool? A golf course? Also decide which of these amenities matter to you and which do not.
Determine its location.
Where is the neighborhood located in the context of the city? Is it close to your work and/or to your children’s schools?
Walk around.
Getting out of the car and observing a neighborhood from ground level can give you a whole new perspective as compared to evaluating it from a car window. Listen—what sounds do you hear? Do you see dilapidated houses, or have most been well taken care of? Are kids playing, or is the street fairly inactive?
Go to the neighborhood at different times of the day.
Traffic may be worse in the morning than it is in the afternoon, for example.
Talk to neighbors.
Have they enjoyed living in the neighborhood? Have they had any problems with it?
Now, take all of the data you have collected and use it to make an informed decision as to the next place you’ll call “home!” At the end of the day, you want to feel completely comfortable in whichever neighborhood you choose.
If you’re looking for a new neighborhood in the Auburn-Opelika area, Ryan Roberts would be more than happy to help you out with your search! Contact Ryan at 334-750-9872.
