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The neighborhood you chose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available
amenities, and convenience all play their part.
Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and
stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood
you’re considering to engage in your most common activities.
Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can probably
provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college,
and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also considering
paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Even if you don’t have
children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future. Another
source is SchoolMatch
Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime
statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed
robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in
only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area? Another source is
www.homestore.com
Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city
economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood
are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t
necessarily diminish value, but do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant
businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?
See if you’ll make money. Ask a local REALTOR® or call the local REALTOR®
Association to get information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood.
Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give
you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. A REALTOR® or the
government planning agency may also be able to tell you about planned developments or
other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or highway—that might affect
value.
See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go
there and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a
warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside.
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