As if making the decision to buy a home isn’t difficult enough, there are numerous factors to consider before you make an actual offer on a home. Sure, there are likely a handful of features that you are looking for in your dream home — big backyard, finished basement, two-car garage, the list goes on — but one of the most important things to take into consideration is the neighborhood. You could very well have found that home that meets all your needs, only to realize that the neighborhood is less than ideal. Many people actually argue that picking the right neighborhood is more important than the house itself.
So, how do you know what to look for in the ‘right’ neighborhood? Below you will find a series of tips to help you weed out the ‘bad’ neighborhoods and find the community that is perfect for you and your family. Ask yourself the following and increase your chance of finding your dream home in your ideal neighborhood:
- Is your commute to work important? Depending on where you live, you may have to come to terms with a longer commute to work in order to find the right neighborhood. Ask yourself how important this is and do some research on mass transit in the area.
- What kind of home are you looking for? Do you want a single-family home? Townhome? Condo? HOA? All of these things are important considerations that you should ask yourself before looking at homes.
- Is the neighborhood safe? Do some research and find out the crime statistics in the neighborhood you are interested in, as this will be a good indicator of how safe it is.
- Are there a lot of foreclosures or for rent signs? Take a walk or drive around the neighborhood and pay attention to for rent signs or foreclosures. This could be a good indicator that the neighborhood has a high turnover rate, which may dissuade you.
- How well do the neighbors take care of their yards? One sure sign of a good or bad neighborhood are the yards. Do homeowners in the neighborhood appear to have well-groomed lawns and green grass, or do things look overgrown and under-maintained?
We hope these tips have given you a good place to start when it comes to finding the right neighborhood to buy a home. The last thing you want is to end up with a property that you wind up despising, just because of the neighborhood. And remember, RJ Burton Relocation Services is here for all your moving needs!
