Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood

The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.

1.    Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engaging in your most common activities.  Remember traffic to and from your places of interest and the times it is the heaviest.

2.    Check out the school district. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. If they are already in selected schools, it would be nice to know that there is an easy route to these locations. Even if you don’t have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.

3.    Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department nearest you for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, rape, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?

4.    Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Are there a lot of homes on the market for sale, or nearby businesses that are relocating?

5.    See if you’ll make money. Ask your REALTOR at Howard Johnson Realty or call the local REALTOR association to get information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. Are there plans for a new highway—that might affect value.

6.    See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?

7.    Is there a good neighborhood watch program or home owners association?