How to Identify a Good Neighborhood: What to Look For
If you’re on the hunt for a new house, then finding the perfect home might be your primary goal; however, it shouldn’t be your only priority. The area you’ll be living in is just as important as the house itself. After all, your dream house isn’t going to seem so perfect if it’s in the middle of a crime-ridden neighborhood or if the nearest amenities are hours away. The following are five important tips for how to identify a good neighborhood:
1. Low Crime Rate
Your family’s safety should be your number one priority, which is why you should investigate the local crime rate first. Check online resources, such as CrimeReports. CrimeReports provides data for all kinds of criminal activity, but Family Watchdog will search for sex offenders in the vicinity of an address and show if any sex offenders live nearby.
2. Good Schools
If you have children or are planning on having children in the future, then you’ll want to make sure that the neighborhood you’re considering is located within a reputable school district. One of the best resources for this is GreatSchools, which allows you to find the school district that serves your community and also provides rankings and user reviews for each school within that district.
3. Strong Local Economy
If you plan on looking for new employment opportunities, then a strong local economy is important. However, it’s good to live in a community with a strong local economy even if you already have a secure job. The stronger the local economy is, the more people will move into the community over time. A steady demand in the housing market will help your new house maintain its value or even appreciate in value in the future. The last thing you’ll want to do is invest in a house that’s going to depreciate over time because people in your neighborhood are losing their jobs and foreclosures are common.
4. Overall Convenience
There are a number of factors to consider when judging the convenience of a new home community. For example, how far will the commute be to your job? You probably won’t want to spend three to four hours a day driving to and from work. Additionally, how far away is the neighborhood located from certain conveniences, such as grocery stores, gas stations, banks, restaurants, and schools? AreaVibes includes a score for convenience of amenities for any place you search.
5. Community Activities
Consider what you enjoy doing for fun and if the neighborhood has amenities that would allow for you to do those activities, whether it be tennis courts, hiking trails, a pool, or a rock climbing gym. You will enjoy your neighborhood much more if it has an outlet for fun outside of work.
How to Identify a Good Neighborhood: Define your Priorities
Finding the perfect home is difficult, but it’s important to identify your priorities when making the decision to buy a house. One thing that should be on the top of your list when house hunting is to find a good neighborhood to live in. Follow our tips on how to find a good neighborhood and you will be on the right track for moving your family to the perfect place.
Outlook Home Inspections provides home inspections and related services to the Greater Charlotte area, Western North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina. If you are buying a home in one of these areas, contact us to discuss how we can help you through the process.