Know Your Neighborhood
Buying a house is about more than the property itself- when you move into a new home you are becoming a part of a community. As a resident of said community, you will spend your time among neighbors, send your children to nearby schools, and frequent the local businesses. You may find a great house, with an excellent price, but if the neighborhood does not suit your needs, you most likely will not be happy with your purchase in the long run. Before making any offers on a house, take the time to explore the community to ensure that it is a good fit for you.
- Research the local schools- If you have school-aged children, you are sure to be interested in the schools that they will attend. Even if you do not have children, you should take the time to learn about schools- homes in good school districts are more desirable, and usually have a better resale value.
- Check out crime statistics for the area- Crime can occur anywhere, but some areas have a higher rate of criminal activity than others. Most people prefer to live in a neighborhood that has a low crime rate.
- Consider your daily commute- Some people do not mind a long commute, while others find a long drive to work very undesirable. Before making a hasty decision in regards to buying a home, consider how much time you will spend each week driving back and forth from home to work. Also look into alternative commuting options, such as buses, trains, or car pooling.
- Visit the neighborhood several times- A street that is calm and quiet in the early afternoon on a weekday can change drastically in the early evenings and on the weekends. Drive by the property that you are interested in at different times, on different days of the week. Doing so can help you determine if the lifestyles of your neighbors is compatible with you- if you enjoy peace and quiet, you don’t want to move next door to the people that have loud parties every weekend.
- Explore the surrounding area- Having stores, restaurants, hospitals, banks, etc. close to your home makes your life a lot easier! Explore the area that you are interested in moving to in order to see if the nearby amenities meet your needs.
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