How to Pick Your Next Neighborhood

How to Pick Your Next Neighborhood

Picking the best neighborhood for you and your family to move to is a major decision. There are plenty of elements to consider before you make an offer on a home. The location of a new house can be the reason you either love or hate your new space. Here are some questions to consider regarding location before you start house hunting in a specific neighborhood.

How Safe is the Neighborhood?

There is no neighborhood completely without crime, but there are many places with an exceptionally low crime rate. Before you decide on a neighborhood to live in, Google the current crime rate to view the current quality-of-life issues and corruption problems. These statistics can be very eye opening and make you think differently about the neighborhood you want to live in. If you are on the edge of whether you want to live in a specific place because of the crime rate, talking to a member of the neighborhood association can be extremely helpful in your decision making.

How Far is the Commute to My Job?

If you work remotely, this question does not apply. But, if you travel to work, time and distance are something to consider when moving to a new location. Before you decide on a new neighborhood, do a dry run of your work commute from the home you are looking at to see if the commute is something you can do long-term. Consider how long it may take to get to the local airport if you travel for business and if you depend on public transportation, make sure there is a bus or train stop close to you.

Are there Shopping Centers Nearby?

Despite the convenience of online shopping, having grocery stores and other retailers nearby is a definite plus when deciding on a new neighborhood to live in. Check to see if there is a downtown or “main street” shopping area or malls within a short driving distance. These are good things to think about now before you officially move into your new home.

Can I Safely Take a Walk?

This may not be something that immediately comes to mind when looking for a new neighborhood but having sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly areas is important to a lot of people. Being in a neighborhood that is easily accessible by walking is something that a lot of homeowners want, especially if they have children or pets.

How is the School System?

If you have kids or plan to have children in the future, it is important to research the school system in your new neighborhood. Ask the local Board of Education if they offer tours of the local schools and chat with the locals about their thoughts on the school system. Doing your research now will benefit you in the future.

What are the Average Property Taxes?

Unfortunately, property taxes are not the same year after year so you may not get a perfect answer to this question. If you are seriously interested in a specific neighborhood, you can look up the average property taxes for the area. Go back a few years to see how the taxes have fluctuated or if they are steadily headed upward. You will want to factor property taxes into your estimated monthly mortgage payments.

Before you officially purchase a home, it is important to ask yourself these important questions to ensure you are buying in the best neighborhood for your situation.

Ready to buy a home? Contact AnnieMac Home Mortgage today to start the pre-approval process!