When thinking about what you want in your dream home, don’t forget to consider the neighborhood. Living in a neighborhood that offers the amenities and lifestyle you want will be important to your family’s happiness for years to come. Here are a few things to consider when choosing the neighborhood for your new home:
How much are the property taxes?
The neighborhood’s location will determine your property taxes and what services are provided to you. Be careful to double-check the location. Sometimes just crossing the street can put you in an area with very different taxes and services.
How far is the commute?
What is your plan for commuting? Would you like to be able to walk or use only public transportation? Do you have a car or are you willing to purchase one? Make sure you take those costs into account as well.
Is the neighborhood child-friendly?
If children are involved you will want to review the school zone you will be in, making sure it has everything you expect. You might want to look at the parks and community centers available nearby as well.
Is the neighborhood safe?
For most people, especially those with young families, safety is a main priority. You can check on the safety of a neighborhood online through City-Data.com and CrimeReports. These websites will help you get a sense of the property and violent crime rates at the ZIP code, neighborhood, and municipal levels.
What amenities are nearby?
For those who dream of a lifestyle with restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, and gyms at the doorstep, it might be ideal to be in an urban location. While for those who enjoy outdoor activities, living close to a park and a lake might be perfect. You can even take into consideration specific activities if those are very important to you.
Is it what you want in a neighborhood?
Don’t forget to think about what you don’t want in your new neighborhood as well. If you don’t want any late-night noise, for example, you might want to stay away from a college area or an area with bars that are open late.
Do the homes fit within your budget?
Usually, the further you are from downtown the more home and land you can afford. Keep this in mind when trying to balance what you would like in your dream home, a neighborhood that offers the amenities you want, and what you can realistically afford. Driving an extra five or ten minutes from downtown might open a whole different range of options that you might not have considered.
Thinking about what you want in your new home and new neighborhood carefully will help to ensure you make the best decision for you and your family for years to come. To search for your dream home, use our home search platform and get a cash reward of 0.5% of the value of the property you purchase when you work with one of our recommended real estate agents!
At Resource Financial Services, we love making people’s dreams of home ownership a reality. Visit us online today at rfsmortgage.com to get started. Then contact a Resource Financial Services mortgage banker at 877.797.4545 to discuss your mortgage options and your financial goals. Let us walk you through the process and welcome you home to a better mortgage.
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