Finding your dream home is often easier than finding your dream
neighborhood. Some homebuyers find the "perfect" home, then immediately put
on their rose-colored glasses, tuning out such factors as nearby congestion
(for example, if a local business causes perpetual traffic jams on the
street); proximity to higher-crime areas or "seedy" hangouts; failing to
calculate the commute time to your new job (it could be much longer than
you think if you don't test it during peak rush hour times); or failing to
calculate the distance to your children's new schools. Perhaps you've got
your eye on a fabulous downtown loft ... only to discover, once you've
moved in, that a "quick trip" to the grocery store means a 20-minute drive
to the suburbs, and that the nearest gas station is nowhere near your new
home.
Before you say "No location is perfect," some of us do come mighty close.
And it's not always due to sheer luck. You can narrow down your list of
perspective new neighborhoods by creating a checklist for yourself. While
you won't always find the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood that
satisfies every preference on your list, you can through a process of
elimination find a home in a neighborhood that meets most of your criteria.
In other words, with a little homework, you can find something you and your
family can live with. While we don't stop to consider it, such factors as
commute time to work and distance to the nearest grocery store can make a
considerable difference in our overall quality of life. Wouldn't you like
to gain an additional 30 minutes each day to spend with your family? Or,
perhaps, know that if you suddenly run out of milk at 9 p.m., that you can
take a five-minute drive down the street to the local market? Today's
on-the-go lifestyles demand "yes" to both questions.
Consider the following criteria when compiling your own personal checklist
for a prospective neighborhood:
How near is your new place of employment? Distance is everything -- even
if you don't think so right now. A short commute buys you more time with
your family, the ability to go home for lunch if you'd like, to wake up
later and leave the office later without fear of traffic tie-ups if you
linger, and in general, a less stressful lifestyle. Even if the physical
distance between your prospective new home and your job doesn't seem great,
make sure you try it during peak rush hour times. Appearances are often
deceiving.
If you're a frequent churchgoer -- whether on Sundays or for various
activities throughout the week -- how close are you to your church? Driving
a far distance back and forth each Sunday can eat up a significant portion
of your weekend.
How close are you to your children's day care provider, if you use one?
Would you have to "back track," driving in the opposite direction of your
workplace to drop your child off? If the answer is yes, don't forget --
that means you'll have an additional distance to drive after work, when
being late for the day care's established pick-up time could cost you fees.
How close are you to your children's school or schools? If one child's
school is close and the other isn't, will this create a problem for you and
your spouse? Would you have any choice as to what school your children
attend? Charter schools are gaining in popularity; this could represent a
solution to your dilemma. Ask your Realtor for local school data not only
in relation to proximity, but also in terms of standardized test scores
compared to both statewide and national averages.
Do you have access to public transportation? This is especially important
for anyone in your home who doesn't drive, including young teens and some
senior citizens. If public transportation is both safe and reliable, you
could opt to move into a home a bit further away from your job than you
would have chosen had public transportation not been available.
How close are you to medical services? To a police station? Fire
department? Proximity to medical care is particularly important for the
increasing percentage of our baby-boomer population caring for their aging
parents and relatives.
Study the other homes on the street. How well do neighbors keep up with
their property? How many other homes are for sale on the street? Are those
homes ridden with un-kept lawns, and is the property being well-maintained
even in the absence of an owner? Drive around the block. Is that same
degree of care taken by other homeowners living on surrounding streets, or
is there a night-and-day difference? Does the atmosphere feel different to
you, perhaps even a bit unsafe? Trust your instincts. Are there any
neighborhood crime watch organizations in the area? How well are local
public facilities maintained?
What is the tax rate for the area? Find out the effective tax rate, which
is the annual tax bill divided by the value of the home? And which
municipal services are available?
Are there any active neighborhood organizations working to maintain and
improve the area?
If you choose to move into the neighborhood, is there a homeowners'
association in which your membership is mandatory? Homeowners have mixed
feelings about such associations. While they certainly help to maintain the
quality of the neighborhood and its property values, and maintain its
safety as well, they do require membership fees. Find out what they are --
you might be surprised.
Will you face any deed restrictions? What are they, and how sternly are
they enforced?
Indeed, it's true that the old saying, "Location, location, location"
really is crucial to the future happiness of any homeowner. So before you
slide on those rose-colored glasses and close the deal, check out that
neighborhood. Come back during the evening hours. Find out who frequents
the neighborhood and when. Some neighborhoods have multiple personalities
and attract a different crowd at night. Talk to your Realtor, then talk to
prospective neighbors. Drive around, and do your own research. Then, and
only then, can you make an informed decision about the best neighborhood
for you.
Published: March 10, 1999
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
Courtney Ronan is a freelance writer who contributes a weekly column profiling various communities. She also writes a weekly review of real estate related web sites. Courtney's career in journalism has included recent stints as managing editor of Agent News and as associate editor of Texas Business magazine.
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