If houses were likened to spouses, then your neighbourhood is like your extended family. But as it is, you can have a good marriage but dread a holiday with your in-laws, the opposite applies to when finding a house, it can never happen that you will love a house without liking the neighbourhood in the first place.
Choosing the right community to live in
Do you have to become a neighbourhood detective or what do you do? All you need to do is figure out what you are looking for, you do your research and then make sure you find the best neighbourhood that best fits your description. Let us look at some of the common features that one should be looking for in a good neighbourhood.
Amenities
As we have already stated, it is not possible for you to find a neighbourhood that has all the features that you desire. Therefore you will have to make some compromises. You will never find all the features that you want in the same place, and if you do, the neighbourhood will be probably too expensive for you to purchase. Never the less, look for the attractive features that you see in that neighbourhood.
Does the place have nice streets and elegance? Does the place have plenty of trees and parks that are ideal for residential? What will it take you to have access to shopping malls and other amenities? Look at such amenities and determine the most suitable for you.
Profile your perfect neighbourhood
The first step that you should take before you start scrutinizing your neighbourhoods is first turning the magnifying glass back on yourself. At this stage, you are supposed to put into perspective what you want in the new neighborhood. It is important to remember that you will not get what you desire, but you will have to make compromises. It is important that you put the must have featured on the top, while you put those that you would like to have at the bottom. So here are some other features to look out for.
Quality schools
When we talk about schools, the quality of schools that are in that neighbourhood will have a big influence on the purchasing price now and in future. If you have kids or not, it is important that you take into consideration the quality of schools that are within that neighbourhood. Settle in a neighbourhood that has good schools as they will be essential in building your kids.
Crime rates
Unfortunately, many neighborhoods have very high crime rates. Before you commit yourself to purchasing a home in a given neighborhood, it is important that you do some research on the local crime rates. This you can do by checking with the local police department. It is important also to speak with your potential neighbors, so they tell you about the security in that area.
Future trends
Make sure that you look out for any future positive or negative developments in the area. Are there any developments in the area, is the beautiful park area being replaced by unattractive features like tall office blocks or a parking garage? Are businesses leaving or coming to these place? Look out for these features and make a wise decision based on them.…
