Finding the perfect home for your family can be a lengthy process, to which there are many steps. However, by selecting your ideal location first, you can prevent the dilemma of finding your dream home in an area in which you don’t really want to live.
There are many things to consider when choosing a neighborhood, and in order to find the perfect one for you, you may need to do a little research. So what things should you consider when choosing a neighborhood?
Location, location, location – Figure out how close the neighborhood is to the important things like work, school, family and friends. Try to drive to and from the neighborhood during rush hour traffic so that you can get a good gage of what you would encounter on a daily basis. How far is the grocery store? How far will you need to drive on a weekly basis?
Schools – If you already have kids, or plan to, you’ll want to check out which schools they would be attending currently and also in the future.
Property values – Research other homes in the neighborhood and try to establish whether there has been any value increase or decrease over the last decade. You may also want to find out the increments in which property taxes have risen.
Development – Do a little research on any upcoming development in the neighborhood, while new development can often prompt a rise in value, it usually comes with a rise in traffic congestion as well.