When Buying, Know the Neighborhood
One of the most important decisions a homebuyer must make is choosing
the right neighborhood. While this is a very personal decision that
often hinges on hundreds of different factors, you should always keep
in mind the following...
- If you are considering buying in an unfamiliar neighborhood,
take the time to walk or drive around it, both during the day and
in the evening.
- Check out the availability of community amenities (such as public
transportation, parks, stores, churches and schools). If you have
school-age children you may even want to visit the local schools
and daycare centers.
- It's a good idea to travel the new driving route to and from
work during the appropriate times to see what traffic is like.
- The quality of neighborhood planning, any future development
plans and local zoning will also have a significant effect on a
neighborhood's desirability. Re-sale values and even future property
taxes are likely to be affected by any significant neighborhood
changes. Are developers interested in the neighborhood? If so, find
out what kind of projects they have planned. You should remember
that attractive tree-covered empty spaces often become the location
of new development in desirable areas.
- Find out if there are major infrastructure projects planned
for the area. Major construction projects, which could be anything
from building a new mass-transit station to widening the area's
major roadway, are usually part of a long-range city, town or county
plan. While construction can be disruptive, you need to determine
if it will have a positive or negative long-term effect on the neighborhood
and its property values. Find out all you can before you decide
to buy.
- Look into the local job market as well. You can expect property
values to rise if area employers are creating more jobs, especially
higher-paying jobs.
- Talk to the neighbors. They could be one of your most valuable
sources of community information.
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