If you’re on the hunt for a new house, finding the perfect home might be your primary goal. However, it shouldn’t be your only priority. The area you’ll be living in can be as important as the house itself. After all, your dream house won’t feel 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 things to look for to help you identify a good neighborhood.
1. A Low Crime Rate Helps to Identify a Good Neighborhood
Your family’s safety should be a priority, which is why you should investigate local crime statistics. There are several ways to find information on crime. Ask your real estate agent before buying. He or she will be familiar with the local area. You can also check online resources, such as CrimeReports and FamilyWatchdog to research crime rates in different neighborhoods.
2. Good Schools
If you have children or are planning on having children, you’ll want to make sure that the community is served by a good school district. One of the best resources for this is GreatSchools, which allows you to find the school district that serves your community. The website also provides rankings and user reviews for each school within that district.
3. A Good Local Economy Can Mean a Good Neighborhood
If you are planning to look for new employment opportunities, then a strong local economy is important. The stronger the local economy is, the more people will move into the community over time. A steady demand in the housing market helps your new house maintain its value or even appreciate in value. In a bad neighborhood, you may find that you have invested in a house that’s decreasing in value because members of the community are losing their jobs and having their homes foreclosed on.
4. Overall Convenience
There are a number of factors to consider when judging the convenience of a community. For example, how far will the commute be to your job? Is your child’s school nearby? You probably want to have grocery stores, parks, gas stations, banks, restaurants, and a post office within a reasonable distance from your neighborhood.
5. Identify a Good Neighborhood by the Community Amenities
Certain amenities may be important to you, such as playgrounds, clubhouses, pools, workout facilities, or even golf courses. Think about which features matter to you and compare amenities when exploring different neighborhoods.
Finding the perfect home is difficult, but it’s helpful to know what your priorities are. Think about what kind of area you want to live in when you are house shopping.
Five Stars Home Inspection offers home inspections to Boston, MA, and the surrounding area. Contact us to request our services if you are buying a house.