{"id":898,"date":"2015-05-08T02:04:34","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T02:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/foundation\/?p=898"},"modified":"2015-05-08T02:04:34","modified_gmt":"2015-05-08T02:04:34","slug":"find-right-neighborhood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/find-right-neighborhood\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Find The Right Neighborhood For You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding the right neighborhood is extremely important when it comes to determining how happy you\u2019re going to be with your home purchase. If you get stuck in a place that\u2019s not for you, there\u2019s not much you can do about it short of moving again.<\/p>\n

In order to make sure you get the best fit, it\u2019s important to do your research. Keep in mind that you\u2019re not just purchasing a home when you buy a house, you\u2019re also buying into the local community. Consider these questions when you\u2019re trying to pick the right place to live.<\/p>\n

1. Do You Fit In?<\/b>
\n\"do-you-fit-in\"<\/p>\n

Source:iStock<\/div>\n

Knowing the culture of a neighborhood can be one of the most important factors when it comes to deciding if a home in that area is the right choice. For example, if you\u2019re a young adult hoping to mingle with the local community, moving onto a street full of retired residents might be a drag.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you\u2019re a family with young children, it might not be the best idea to move next door to a college fraternity house that throws huge parties every weekend. Be aware of the community experience you\u2019re looking for and try to find a neighborhood that best facilitates that.<\/p>\n

2. What Role Does Family Play In Your Life?<\/b>
\n\"what-role-does-family-play\"<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User dbjules<\/div>\n

New things become a factor when children make their way into the picture. If you\u2019ve already got a few kids or there\u2019s a chance you might have one in the future, note things like the local education system, crime rates, and the size of your property.<\/p>\n

Having a yard that\u2019s safe to play will suddenly seem a lot more important. Keep in mind that there\u2019s also the potential you might choose to build an addition onto your home in the future to accommodate for the growth of your family. If this is a possibility, you\u2019ll want to live in a neighborhood that will let you do that.<\/p>\n

3. How\u2019s The Location\u2026Really?<\/b>
\n\"how-is-the-location-really\"<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr Creative Commons<\/div>\n

If you like a house, it\u2019s often easy to overlook certain characteristics of the location by telling yourself it\u2019s \u201conly a short drive\u201d from everything you\u2019ll need. However, if you really want to be thorough, test the neighborhood out for yourself.<\/p>\n

See exactly how long it would take to commute to your workplace and other places you plan on spending time. While the perfect neighborhood might seem like it\u2019s close to everything you\u2019d want, you never really know until you\u2019re on the road making the drives.<\/p>\n

The last thing you want to is purchase a new home only to realize that you\u2019re spending twice as long as you thought you would in the car every day.<\/p>\n

4. Is The Neighborhood A Good Investment?<\/b>
\n\"neighborhood-good-investment\"<\/p>\n

Source: Liz Roll via Wikimedia Commons<\/div>\n

Before you spend money on a home in a certain neighborhood, it\u2019s important to consider what the future of the area might look like. This will help you decide whether or not you\u2019re making a good investment.<\/p>\n

Try to determine if the neighbor is on the rise or on the (dreaded) decline. One good indicator is the local real estate market. Are a lot of people trying to sell their homes so that they can leave for another place? Or are there new buildings and businesses being built in the area.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re in the market for a home, you obviously want to buy something that will appreciate over time, earning you more money down the road.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, if something seems fishy about the area and the people in the community don\u2019t act like they care about its wellbeing, there\u2019s probably a better place to spend your dough. Don\u2019t be afraid to listen to your gut.<\/p>\n

5. Are You Fine With Local Rules? <\/b>
\n\"fine-with-local-rules\"<\/p>\n

Flickr Creative Commons<\/div>\n

Keep in mind that many neighborhoods are governed by associations that control certain aspects of life in the community.<\/p>\n

For example, there might be a rule forbidding the permanent parking of motorcycles in the driveway. If you\u2019ve got a sweet hog and don\u2019t do your research, certain restrictions might turn out to be quite the bummer.<\/p>\n

Check with your agent about local rules and regulations and don\u2019t be afraid to ask your potential future neighbors, as well.<\/p>\n

6. Is There Anything Around That Might Annoy You? <\/b>
\n\"anything-that-might-annoy\"<\/p>\n

Giphy.com<\/div>\n

Certain things like smells and sounds often go unnoticed or ignored during initial walk-throughs, only to be discovered during the first week you spend in your new home.
\nTo avoid getting stuck in a situation where something like a loud noise might wake you up every night, keep an eye out for things like train tracks, obnoxious neighbors, and stinky farms throughout your visits made to the property prior to purchasing a home.<\/p>\n

Even make note of things like unkempt properties nearby if that\u2019s something that annoys you. It should, it does tend to lower the value of your home, after all.<\/p>\n

7. How Much Will Taxes And Other Expenses Be? <\/b>
\n\"how-are-taxes-and-other-expenses\"<\/p>\n

Flickr user Nic McPhee<\/div>\n

Some areas tend to have significantly higher property taxes than others. Make sure you can afford the taxes long term before making your purchase, especially if you\u2019re anticipating your home\u2019s value increasing.<\/p>\n

You should also make sure that you\u2019re aware of fees that might be charged by the local home owners\u2019 association. Most of these have a hefty annual membership fee. Make sure you\u2019re fine paying that before you sign any deals.<\/p>\n

8. What Amenities Do You Need? <\/b>
\n\"what-amenities-do-you-need\"<\/p>\n

Flickr Creative Commons<\/div>\n

Many times, selecting the right neighborhood can make your life a lot more convenient if it\u2019s got the right amenities. If you\u2019re already spending time and money making frequent trips to places like the gym, a pool, or the dry cleaners, look for a neighborhood that offers some of these services on site.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to make sure you\u2019re aware of what public transportation might be nearby and what public services (like trash collection) are offered, if those things are important to you.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re considering amenities, you can even consider things as specific as what cable and internet providers might serve a certain area, especially if having a fast internet connection is something you care about.<\/p>\n

9. Would Your Guests Feel Welcome?<\/b>
\n\"would-guests-feel-welcome\"<\/p>\n

Wikimedia Commons<\/div>\n

Buying a new house is no fun if no one wants to come to your first party. Consider your neighborhood from the standpoint of visiting guests. Think about things like guest parking, ease of access, and community safety.<\/p>\n

While your car might be safely parked in the garage, you should consider what the road parking is like in the area. If someone comes into town for a visit, are they likely to get a parking ticket or fall victim to theft?<\/p>\n

Considering things like this prior to making a purchase is sure to save you a headache or two in the future.<\/p>\n

10. What Do Other People Have To Say About The Neighborhood<\/b>
\n\"-what-do-neighbors-say\"<\/p>\n

Flickr Creative Commons<\/div>\n

While your real estate agent should be doing their best to educate you on the local area, don\u2019t expect them to cover everything. Sometimes they might simply forget to mention something if you don\u2019t ask.<\/p>\n

To make sure you\u2019ve covered all your bases, consult additional resources to get a fuller picture. Try to find out what localized blogs and news media have to say about your neighborhood. Make a stop by the local police station and ask about local crime and problems the neighborhood might have or develop in the future.<\/p>\n

By fully educating yourself on what you\u2019re buying into, you\u2019re less likely to set yourself up for disappointment. Most importantly, don\u2019t be scared to knock on some nearby doors and meet people. Introduce yourself to potential neighbors and let them know you\u2019re looking at the house down the road.<\/p>\n

This can be a good way to get additional information you can\u2019t find elsewhere and it will also give you a better idea of how you\u2019ll fit it into the local community.<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line<\/h1>\n

Aim to find a neighborhood you can see yourself living in for longer than you plan on owning your new house. If you think certain aspects of a neighborhood are a bit off initially, it\u2019s probably not going to get better.<\/p>\n

Like any other step of the home buying process, doing your own research is key. The more work you put into finding the right neighborhood, the happier you\u2019ll probably be with the final results.<\/p>\n

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