Hang Out
Literally. Spend part of a day there. See what life is like in this neighborhood. Take a walk around and see how friendly your neighbors are. Sit down at a nearby coffee shop or restaurant that might be your new regular spot. How do you feel during this adventure and after it? Does it draw you in and make you want to live there? Or are there some question marks that make you a little hesitant?
What Does Your Family Need?
Your needs might vary a little bit depending on if you have children, want children in the future, or if you are single. If you have children, you’ll probably want to be near a highly rated school system. Would you feel comfortable letting your children play out in the front yard? If you’re single, you may want to have some options for night life or daily activities. Or maybe you just want some peace and quiet. If you have a dog, you’ll want to have some yard space and you might want to be near a park. How would your commute be? Will there be heavy traffic and if so, does traffic stress you out? These are all questions to ask yourself when you’re considering a particular neighborhood.
What Do You Want To Be Near?
We touched on this a little bit in the previous section, but let’s take it a bit further. What do you currently do regularly or what would you like to be doing? Maybe you want to be able to visit restaurants or cafes on foot. Maybe you want a market or corner store close by to pick up little things you forgot at the grocery store. Speaking of which, how far will the nearest grocery store be from you and does that grocery store have the items/brands you like to buy? If you find yourself enjoying your time with your pup at a nearby dog park, find out if there’s a dog park nearby in this new neighborhood. Maybe you’re an active golfer or you like to hit the gym. How far will you need to go to do the things you enjoy?
What Are Some Things You DON’T Want?
One of the first things that usually comes to mind when considering what you don’t want is the crime rate in the area. It makes sense. You want to feel safe. There are a few other aspects to consider. If you have children, you might want to avoid being near a bar scene. If you’re single, that might be exactly what you’re looking for. Are you frustrated by road noise? How far away is the nearest highway or busy street? Everybody thinks about the things they want when house hunting, but it’s good to get an idea of some things you’d like to avoid also. What has irritated you or stressed you out in the past?
Think About Future Value
There are a few strategies that will help you determine what the value of the homes in your new neighborhood will look like in the future. How has the value of homes in the neighborhood changed over the last five years? Ten years? It’s always nice to know that the value of your home is increasing as the years go by. Should you decide to move again in a few years, you won’t have to take a huge loss on your home. You could also look into what future projects and developments are scheduled in the neighborhood. You might find that something is due to be built that will change how you feel about your future in this neighborhood.
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