Selecting Your Community
Finding a great neighborhood is just as important as finding the perfect house, especially so if you have children. Buying a home is probably the one of the biggest investments of your life - a home in the right community will make your homeownership experience both satisfying and financially rewarding.
What’s important to you, in the area you live? Is it the quality of life, is it the commute, or is it the neighborhood’s amenities? Here are some of the important questions we encourage buyers to ask themselves, when on their journey for the perfect home and neighborhood.
One way to determine whether a certain community is right for you is making a list. Do you like an active, busy community, or do you prefer seclusion and quiet? What community public resources do you currently use (schools, community colleges, library, day care, recreation center)?
How important is it to have shopping & restaurants close by? What don't you like about where you live now? Considering your lifestyle needs and rank your preferences. Choose the neighborhood that seems most likely to satisfy your needs.
If you're unsure of where to begin, your agent can help. He will show you where the schools, shopping centers, restaurants, and more are located. Many times the city hall will have a packet of community resources as well. Walk through the streets helps you to get a "feel for the place" and to see whether the activity and noise levels are to your liking.
Another thing you should do before moving is checking into the crime rates. While no community is 100% safe, some neighborhoods have a higher crime rate than others. Where a home is located will have a big impact on its price and resale value, so you’ll want to be well-informed.
Your local police department maintains crime statistics from FBI reports and is an excellent source for crime information. Other sources include online reports from the FBI and reports from private sources.
But by following these tips, you’ll be much better prepared to find the right community - and a sweet deal is less likely to turn sour.