| Choosing Neighborhood |
CHOOSING A NEIGHBORHOOD
The neighborhood you chose can have a big impact on your lifestyle - safety, available amenities and convenience all play a part.
1. Make a list of the activities - work, doctors, health club, after school activities, church, movies - you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel to engage in your most common activities from each neighborhood you are considering.
2. Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can usually 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 are considering. Even if you do not have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.
3. 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 and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?
4. Determine if the area 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? Apartment do not necessarily diminish value, but do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businessess or homes that have been for sale for months?
5. Available healthcare. Ask your realtor for a list of physician offices and other healthcare providers in the area. If you have specific healthcare issues that require quick access to a physician or medical center, you want to assure your neighborhood provides that.
6. See if you will make money. Ask a local realtor for 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, that may affect value.
7. See for yourself. Once you have 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.
**Source - Realtor Magazine Online |
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