Articles / the perfect neighborhood
Have the Cleavers left town for good?
/ By Mj Gladding 10.09.06Finding the right neighborhood when shopping for a new home is almost half the battle these days. If you wind up in a bad location, you could be stuck there. When my husband and I were shopping for our second home just last year, he fell in love with a house in West Rutland, Vermont. It had everything. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a finished basement, hardwood floors, a three car garage and a perfectly flat and large backyard. The flat backyard was a stipulation…our first house had a very uneven lawn and he HATED mowing it. So much so that it rarely got mowed at all.
So, the house was perfect…we rushed over with our realtor, Rebecca Woodard of Century 21 Premiere Properties because we were sure that we were going to have to go to war with someone over this gem of a home.
When we got to what we thought was going to be our future address, my decorating plans came to a screeching halt. I knew immediately that I was not going to live there. The house was right next to the highway! And when I say highway, there was even an overpass involved. My husband seemed to think that we would “get used to it” and not even notice the sound of the cars and tractor trailers barreling by. I had and still have a very close relationship with Rebecca, so we were able to speak frankly with one another. The house had been on the market for quite some time, and if we were ever to put the house back on the market, she feared that history would repeat itself.
Location, location, location! It can largely affect your life. School systems, employment opportunities, community programs, leisure activities…lions and tigers and bears! Here are some tips that will aide you in finding the best neighborhood for you and your family:
(click on the image to get all info on
this beautiful Vermont property)
1. How is the school district?
The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information
on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and
special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also considering
paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you're considering. Even if
you don't have children, a house in a good school
district will be easier to sell in the future.
2. Is the neighborhood safe?
Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not
only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and
the trend of increasing or decreasing crime.
3. Is the neighborhood economically
stable?
Check with your local city economic development office to see
if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage
of homes to apartments? Apartments don't necessarily diminish value, but
do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes
that have been for sale for months?
4. Will you get your money back if
you decide to sell in the future?
Ask your realtor 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.
5. Are there community activities
for myself and my family?
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
engage in your most common activities.
Finally, and most importantly, GO THERE. Once you've narrowed your focus
to two or three neighborhoods, go there and walk around. Are homes tidy and
well maintained? Quiet streets? Pick a nice day if you can and chat with
people working or playing outside. It could help you in making a very important
future decision.
