Where Should We Live? Checklist on Choosing a Good Neighborhood
Many homeowners would agree that finding a good neighborhood is as important as choosing a home itself. Well, it’s pretty understandable though. Who would want to live in a noisy, troublesome neighbourhood? Considering you’d be living with them for the rest of your life, so it’s better to think the way forward before everything messes up.
Here’s a quick checklist to consider:
#1 Crime rates
Safety should be your top priority when choosing a neighborhood. Living in a neighborhood with a low crime rate is not only safer, but can help keep property values afloat in the years to come.
If you’ve watched the Netflix film American Murder: The Family Next Door, then that is a chilling reminder that brutal crimes can happen in real life too.
How to check: Do some research online and offline. Interview the people around or ask some friends what they know about the place. Social media is a good place to get more information too! But most importantly, work with real estate agents you can trust or someone a family you can vouch for. Ask for honest opinions whether it’s really safe or not.
#2 Proximity to workplace
Next is location. Where you work in relation to where you live is also an important factor to consider. How far is the commute from home to your workplace? Will you commit to a long travel time for work? If not, be sure to look into public transportation options that are in close proximity.
How to check: Visit the place yourself before sealing the deal. Instead of just asking people around, test out your commute at the time of day you typically go to work. Although choosing the right neighborhood takes some legwork, it’s important to choose a place to live where you want to come home every night.
#3 School quality
Even if you don’t have a child, choosing a community with good schools can be a smart investment. Because homes that are situated near high quality schools generally have higher property values and huge resale potential. In fact, many home buyers are willing to forgo certain home amenities just to have access to quality schools.
How to check: Create a checklist of your negotiables and non-negotiables (i.e school qualities or values) that are important to you and your child’s education. Once you’ve narrowed down your lists, then ask any of your network to get insights. Parents, perhaps?
#4 Quality of Community Services Around
When choosing a neighborhood, the quality of the community’s services (i.e. police and fire protection, department stores, education and health care) is something that you may give a lot of thought to. Is the neighborhood close to hospitals, supermarkets, church, public transportation, and other necessities of urban living? Make sure to consider choosing a location that’s close to where you will be running a majority of your errands.
READ: What To Look for When Condo Hunting for Your Growing Family
#5 Character of the community
Lastly, give yourself and your kids a headstart in life by surrounding them with people who have the same values and aspirations as your family. You can get a good sense of the community surrounding simply by talking to them and asking what they like or proud of the community. There’s nothing that beats a neighborhood who takes pride in their community.
