Picking a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and desires is an important part of the homebuying process. It can be challenging, though … there are so many things to consider.
For a lot of people, quality schools top the list of desirable neighborhood amenities. It may surprise you that being in an area with good schools is important even for people without children because good schools mean a higher resale value.
As unpleasant as it may be, the crime statistics of an area are important, too. Take your time and do your research on this one … there are plenty of resources out there, including local law enforcement resources, Web sites, even neighborhood Internet groups.
You may also want to consider transportation issues, such as how living in an area is going to affect your day-to-day errands, your commute, and the ease of access to public transportation and major thoroughfares.
Some people want to be in close proximity to healthcare facilities. Others find that having quick access to shopping centers or their favorite grocery store or restaurants is a top priority. Still others may value features such as public pools and parks, access to bike routes and jogging and walking trails.
The point is that everyone’s list will be different. The key is to find a neighborhood that scores well in areas you deem important. That’s a good place to focus your search efforts.
If you’re able to find everything you’re looking for in a neighborhood, good for you! However, if you’re like many people, you may have to make some sacrifices. A neighborhood you’re considering may score well on most of your checklist but not meet every single one of your criteria. That’s when you have to decide if one missing attribute can be offset by the presence of another.
Many Texas REALTORS® concentrate on becoming experts in specific neighborhoods or zip codes, so if you find an area you like, great representation may be close by.
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