How To Choose The Best Neighborhood When Buying A Home

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    There are many factors to consider when selecting a neighborhood that is right for you. Below are just a few of the many factors — you may think of others that are important to you. Neighborhoods have characteristic personalities designed to best suit single people, growing families, two-career couples, or retirees.

    Scout the Neighborhood

    It is important that you scout the neighborhood in person. You live in more than your house.

    • Talk to people who live there.
    • Drive through the entire area at different times of the day, during the week and on weekends.
    • Look carefully at how well other homes in the area are being maintained; are they painted, are the yards well cared for; are parked cars in good condition, etc.

    8 Essential Neighborhood Factors to Consider

    • Look for things like access to major thoroughfares, highways, and shopping.
    • Listen for noise created by commerce, roads, railways, public areas, schools, etc.
    • Smell the air for adjacent commerce or agriculture.
    • Check with local civic, police, fire, and school officials to find information about the area.
    • Research things like soil and water.
    • Look at traffic patterns around the area during different times of the day and drive from the area to work.
    • Find out if the neighborhood is near parks, churches, recreation centers, shopping, theaters, restaurants, public transportation, schools, etc.
    • Find out if the neighborhood belongs to a Homeowner’s Association.

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