Neighborhoods and communities are special – we use them as ways to identify the kind of people we are. But now, you’re looking for a new one for one reason or another, and you want to find the right place, a good place where your children can be safe or you can finally get a couple of dog-walking buddies.

Other than the obvious like talking to your potential neighbors, there’s plenty of resources you can utilize in order to determine if the area fits what you want along with doing your own research and planning so you can find a community that’s the perfect fit for you. Here’s some aspects to consider while you’re researching for your new stomping grounds.

What do you want?

Much like envisioning what you’d like your dream home to look like before you go house shopping, it’s also important to think about what you would like out of your neighborhood. Do you want somewhere more private? Then it would probably be better to look outside the center of town. If you like to walk and/or be closer to all the activities the town has to offer, then looking around Main Street is where it’s at. A website like walkscore.com, along with a traditional Google search, can show you what’s around a neighborhood and how easy it is to get there.

Things to Consider

Schools

Regardless of whether you have kids, plan to have kids, or neither, the quality of the schools you live around is an important factor on home value. It can drive up the demand for houses in the area, along with price, and also ups the home’s resale value. Check out greatschools.org to evaluate the schools in your prospective area.

Financials

Researching home prices in the area you’re interested in is a given. Additionally, when talking to your real estate agent, you’ll want to look into where the home’s value is going, as it’s a good indication of the quality of the area as well as if it’s a good investment. They’ll give you a comparative market analysis of other houses in the area so you can get a better idea of the value.

On top of this, you’ll want to look into transportation costs as well. A longer commute means, of course, more gas, but depending on where you live, you may be able to ditch the car and go with public transportation instead.

Be Vigilant

Whenever you drive through the neighborhood, make sure to observe how well your neighbors take care of their homes, as well as how well the city maintains public amenities. For instance, if there’s a lot of “for sale” signs in a long-established neighborhood, it could be a sign the area is struggling. If your neighbors care about the landscaping and putting a fresh coat of paint on their siding, it shows pride in where they live. Additionally, the city taking care of and/or putting in sidewalks, parks and facilities, streets, indicates positive growth in the community.

Researching the safety of the area is usually one of the first things people think of when looking at a potential neighborhood. Going to websites like crimereports.com or mylocalcrime.com can give you information as detailed as the street you’re interested in living on, and you can search for registered sex offenders in your area on NSOPW.gov.

Make sure to do your due diligence before signing on a home. The information could save you from moving somewhere unsafe or could be the extra motivation to put an offer on the home you love. Ready to start your homebuying journey? Contact an experienced lender at Flat Branch Home Loans today.

Researching a Neighborhood Before You Buy