5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Neighbourhood

Neighbourhood

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions for many people. Apart from being a major financial decision, being a homeowner is a very emotional thing for a lot of people. However, before we arrive at the decision of owning a home, it is important to not only research about the home but also the neighbourhood. After all, you might not be content with your decision if you have a beautiful home, but the neighbourhood character is not to your liking.

While searching for new construction homes, it is also important to pay attention to the community. You should be looking at a community where your family feels safe and comfortable. Let us take a look at the 5 factors you should consider while choosing a neighbourhood.

Finding a Home

Is the community in the proximity of basic facilities?

Your comfortable home might not feel so comfortable if grocery stores, pharmacies, shops, etc. are not in its vicinity. While choosing a neighbourhood, you should take into account accessibility to basic amenities. If you have to walk a long distance or take out your car to buy grocery, you might need to look somewhere else.

Are there reputed schools in the vicinity of the neighbourhood?

If you have kids or are planning to start a family in the future, you should prioritize communities that are in the vicinity of reputed schools. You should do some research on the good schools that are in the vicinity of a community as realtors are not allowed to provide direct information to buyers about specific schools in accordance with The Fair Housing Act. Even if you are not going to have kids, choosing a community with good schools is a wise thing to do as houses in these communities hold onto their value for a long time.

Does the neighbourhood provide for easy commute?

 

Transport

 

Easy access to public transit options can save a lot of time and money. When scouting for the right neighbourhood for your family, you should research about the available options to commute. Lack of good transport service will make it difficult for you to commute easily. However, you should also keep in mind that homes in communities that are in the proximity of subway stations or highways come at a higher price.

Does the region have a low crime rate?

Ensuring that you or your near and dear ones feel safe and secure in a new community should be on your priority list. Thankfully, you can now check the crime statistics of a region on the internet. You can also get in touch with the local police authorities and know about the crime scenario in the region. As a homebuyer, it is your prerogative to ensure that you are aware about the prevailing crime situation in the neighbourhood where you are planning to move.

Are there any issues related to traffic congestion and noise pollution?

Many expert realtors advise homebuyers to visit a neighbourhood during the daytime and as well as in the night. This is because neighbourhood experiences can be different for day and night. Neighbourhoods with too many pubs or bars might become noisy when it is time for your kids to sleep, therefore, you need to know about it before you make a move. Another reason for visiting a neighbourhood at various hours is that you will get to know about the traffic situation. If you visit a neighbourhood in the afternoon, many people may be in their offices or homes and the traffic will seem minimal. However, you should also know whether there are long traffic jams and congestion on roads during the peak hours. To know more about the neighbourhood character, you should talk to the residents or mom-and-pop store owners.

These were a few things that you should keep in mind while selecting a new neighbourhood. Although this list is not exhaustive, we hope that it helps you in getting a gist of things to lookout for when choosing a neighbourhood.