55% of homebuyers want to live in a
place that’s away from it all
65% wanted a short commute to work
65% also wanted access to public
transportation within walking distance of their home
66% looked for an established
neighborhood with older homes and mature trees
66% also desired to live in a community
with people at all stages of life
68% wanted easy access to a highway
69% said that walking distance to
schools and shops, etc. was important
74% wanted to move into a neighborhood
with high-quality public schools
80% looked for sidewalks and places they
could take walks
86% desired privacy from neighbors
Those are great indicators of what to
look for when buying a home or even renting in a new area. Let’s look a little
closer at the top 10 factors to look for in a great neighborhood – and what red
flags to avoid:
1.
Matching your lifestyle
Are you outdoorsy love biking, jogging,
and spending time in nearby parks? Do you prefer quiet and solitude or
community events like fairs and festivals? Is a perfect Saturday night involve
going out to watch live music at a local venue, or just sitting on the patio of
a nice café drinking a glass of wine with a good meal while people watching? No
matter what your hobbies, pastimes, and passions, there is a neighborhood for
you. But seldom is there one neighborhood that can provide everything for
everybody, so before you buy a house in the vicinity, make sure to think about
your lifestyle and what’s most important to you, and then find the matching
‘hood.
2.
Pride in ownership
Driving around a neighborhood for the
first time while shopping for houses, it may all be a blur where everything
looks about the same. But slow down and take another loop around the streets,
this time looking for the subtle cues that display pride of ownership.
Well-maintained lawns, freshly painted homes, cleanliness, and decorated front
porches, and improvements all hint that it’s the kind of neighborhood where
owners and renters care about maintaining the aesthetics – and values – of
their homes.
3.
Low crime rate
It’s a good idea to do a little research
on crime in the neighborhood you’re planning to move into. There are plenty of
websites that offer detailed reports, and you can also reach out to community
organizations, the neighborhood watch, and local police. While every area can
be a potential target of crime, you’ll want to know if it’s just a few petty
thefts going on or a pattern of more serious, violent crimes that could
endanger your family.
4.
Schools
The quality of public schools is one of
the most significant factors for influencing future values. Why? If the schools
are good, young families and concerned parents will always want to move there.
Not only are those the exact neighbors you’ll want to have, but also that unwavering
demand will keep the real estate values high.
5.
Parks
Hand-in-hand with schools, the availability
of public parks that are nice, clean, and safe always boost the home values in
the area. Well-planned and pleasing parks and recreational areas act not only
as focal points for recreation and healthy lifestyles, but as positive anchors
for the surrounding community.
6.
Mature trees
Neighborhoods with fully-grown and
well-planned trees, flowerbeds, and bushes, etc. are always a good sign. Sure,
there are marginal or even bad neighborhoods that are old and have mature
trees, but for the most part, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting with a
well-seasoned community, as the majority of neighborhoods on the down slope or
in transition are less than 20 years old. Don’t forget that trees also create
shade in the summer, color during the fall, attract local fauna, and offer
plenty of nice views and greenery the rest of the year.
7.
Improvements and infrastructure
Are the streets wide with sidewalks that
are well maintained? Are speed bumps and stop signs in place to slow and
regulate traffic? Are streets well lit at night? Do the sewers, drainage
systems, and garbage and recycling services work as planned? These may seem
like little things, but they can make a big difference in improving – or
hurting – the quality of a neighborhood.
8.
Amenities
Are all the necessities like grocery
stores, gyms, doctor’s offices and hospitals, hair salons, banks, and gas
stations in close vicinity and easily accessible? If so, the next step is to
check out the availability of restaurants, pubs, cafes, coffee shops, boutiques,
art galleries, and other establishments that add a lot of flavor, character,
and enjoyment in a neighborhood. Mom and pop eateries and businesses,
especially, are a great sign that people are fully vested in the community.
9.
Walking
Some neighborhoods can best be described
as urban oasis, where everyone is isolated except for the ability to get in a
car and drive where they want to go. But if you see a community where people
and families are out taking walks, riding bikes, and able to go eat, drink, and
recreate without getting in their cars, that’s a huge indicator that it’s a
quality area.
10.
Commute time
We’d all love to take nice after-dinner
walks with our families and play in local parks but let’s face it: come Monday
morning, most of us will have to go to work. So neighborhoods that are close to
public transit, main streets, and highways are always in high demand. The key
with proximity is to be close to these things but not right ON them, which can
bring heavy traffic and even safety issues.
Neighborhood
red flags:
So now that we have ten things to look
for in a good neighborhood, what are some red flags that might indicate a
community is on the downturn? If you take a drive around and see vacant
buildings, empty commercial spaces in shopping centers, an unusual number of
For Rent and homes for sale, high lawns, trash and litter, spray paint,
abandoned shopping carts, too many cars filling streets, driveways, and even
yards, security doors and bars on windows, and other signs of general blight,
you may want to rethink the neighborhood.
Take a few drives around the area in
the morning, afternoon, and then again at night and compare the conditions.
Instead of just looking closely at the homes you consider buying, remember that
you’re buying into the surrounding neighborhood, too – and that might be even
more important.
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