Check out the neighborhood is probably the best house hunting tip anyone can give you. When you buy a house, you’re also investing in the neighborhood. Extend your vision beyond the sidewalk; your property may end there, but your world doesn’t. So, before you make your offer, check out the neighborhood to make sure it’s a good fit, too.
This simple house hunting tip can make the difference in your level of satisfaction. It’s a difficult enough task to find a house that lives up to your goals, but remember: you’re not just picking a house, you’re choosing a community. And if you end up being unhappy in the neighborhood, no other house hunting tips will matter. So as you consider your dream home; think about what you want in your dream neighborhood. Do you prefer…
- Noisy neighbors or new friends?
- Nearby grocery stores or a food desert?
- A nearby highway or a nearby playground?
House Hunting Tip #1: Take Stock of Your Goals
The type of neighborhood that fits you best depends on your stage of life and your goals, both long-term and short-term. For instance:
- Maybe you’re still young, bursting with endless energy. Your dream neighborhood lies smack dab in the center of a metropolitan universe filled with the sounds and sights of bustling life. You may have to give up that open living room for a ten-minute walk to downtown.
- Maybe you have a growing family. If children are the center of your world, you can skip some amenities as long as the kids have good schools and nearby friends. You may have to shrink your ideal master bathroom for a smaller house in a better school district.
- Maybe you just retired and prefer the soft sounds of birds and crickets. After decades of hard work, you want a quiet oasis. The best house-hunting tip for you is to make sure the neighbors share your vision before you buy.
The point is that the surrounding community has to factor into your decision-making process. You may find your perfect house, but if the area doesn’t complete the package, don’t hesitate to walk away.
House Hunting Tip #2: Find What Sets the Neighborhood Apart
Ideally, you may think you want to find neighbors in a similar stage of life as you, but stay open to making new friends. When you’re on a house-hunting trip and find a promising candidate, talk to people on either side of the property lines. You can learn more about the house you’re viewing than you ever could from your other research.
Ask neighbors about safety issues like traffic and crime. Find out what they like most (and least) about the neighborhood. Ask how long people have lived there. Neighbors may have a better perspective on how the community has improved and what they think the future holds.
Think of what extras you’d like to have in your neighborhood. Some communities have pools, tennis or basketball courts, walking trails or clubhouses that provide weekly entertainment. Other communities may feature a local convenience store, a nearby gym, a library or a park.
House Hunting Tip #3: Explore the Area
After you’ve found a house you’d like to buy, drive around the neighborhood at different times of the day. Watch the foot traffic and the car traffic. Pull over to the curb and roll down the windows. Listen. Watch. Breathe the air. Can you see yourself here?
Finally, find out what your morning commute will be like. Come back in the evening and watch how the neighborhood settles in for the night. Are children playing or are cars racing down the street? Come back to the house on different days and at various times of day. Let it grow on you; if it does, buy the house because you’re already home.
For more informative articles on buying, selling, and financing a house, check out Zack’s blog page. Also, another useful article on this subject can be found here.
