Moving into a new home and city can be an exciting adventure, especially if the neighborhood looks seemingly perfect. Be careful, some areas can seem too good to be true and might be hiding something underneath. It's important to look for signs of the right neighborhood for you. Here are five things to look for in the perfect neighborhood.
Parks & Sidewalks
The tell-tale sign of a neighborhood that the city services care for is local parks and the conditions of sidewalks. If a neighborhood lacks sidewalks, then you can tell that no parks or other public areas are within walking distance, which can be a huge red flag of a neglectful city. Studies have shown that cities without walkways have twice as many pedestrian-related crashes. Consider the weather as well when looking for sidewalks near your new home. Paved sidewalks and protected edges improve roadway drainage. Parks and sidewalks that are well-taken care of show signs of a wealthy city that cares about its residents and recreation.
Emergency Service Centers
One of the most overlooked neighborhood amenities is the distance of emergency service centers located away from the home. Often times, residents realize a police or fire station is located too far away from the home once a disaster has happened. Take a look at the distance between your new home and the police and fire station. Response time from these important emergency services is key to preventing crime and disasters or even stopping them in the middle of their occurrence. Don't wait until it's too late to take note of their locations and distance.
Shopping
Wouldn't you feel miserable if you had to drive an hour away into the next town in order to buy groceries? Shopping centers, malls, and grocery stores are the sign of a thriving neighborhood. Any form of shopping and recreation can raise the property value on your house, between 14 to 30 percent. High property value raised by high-quality amenities and shopping centers means higher income families live in the area. It's no secret that high-income areas also have the lowest crime rates.
Schools
College campuses and public schools are important to look out for in a perfect neighborhood. If you have children that attend school, or if you yourself are attending college, it's important to find a campus nearby to cut down on driving time and fuel costs. Even if you aren't attending college or have children that go to school, it's still vital to take note of nearby schools as they can affect the traffic and parking in the area. Some cities even mail out parking permits to residents due to high traffic and limited parking spaces. If you are located near a school, take into account how it will alter the time spent driving to work.
Health Care Services
Just like emergency response services, it's vital to take note of all hospitals, clinics, and dental offices in the local area. Don't forget to visit your previous doctor before you move into the new neighborhood to get a copy of your health records to give to your new doctor and dentist. If you have trouble finding practice centers near your home, a quick search such as dentist near me can quickly give you a list. Find a health center or office that suits your needs. A perfect neighborhood has all of these health practices located within ten miles or less for optimal response times. It would be problematic if you had to drive an hour or two away for something as small as a dental checkup.
After you have scoped out your potential new neighborhood in person, don't forget to do some quick research. Digital maps make it locate all these items and will also automatically measure the distance between them and your new home. Look for all these important signs for the perfect neighborhood that suits your needs.
