How to find THE Neighborhood
that fits You and Your Lifestyle

Having a fantastic home in the wrong neighborhood can quickly become a nightmare. The community that you choose to call home can make a big difference in your happiness and quality of life.

Finding one that suits your family's lifestyle and needs is just as important a factor as number of bedrooms and square footage. When searching for your next home, think about finding the right neighborhood first.

Create a checklist of things that are important to you in your new community. Here are some suggestions which may help narrow down the choices. These may seem obvious, but they bear repeating.

Quality of the school system: Standard & Poor's web site allows parents to research and compare schools within a city and state.

Safety: Make sure you know how safe your prospective neighborhood is. Weather, crime, toxic waste and traffic are just a few of the issues you should research before making the decision to purchase a certain home.

Getting to work: Certainly, if you want to spend less time and money getting to and from work, consider a location as close as possible to your workplace.

Cost of Living: Is the cost of living affordable? Do your homework to be certain.

Property taxes and homeowners' association (HOA) fees: When you are buying a home, you aren't just investing in the cost of the house. Depending on the city or county the neighborhood is located in, the property taxes you pay may vary.

In addition, many neighborhoods have HOA fees that help pay to maintain common areas, such as a park or a pool. Be certain that you are educated on what your future obligations will be on a monthly or yearly basis when you look at your budget.

Average housing costs and history: Look at the average cost of homes in a given neighborhood. This will help you to determine what you can expect a home in that community to cost. Also, be sure to look at the history of the community to make sure the values of the homes have grown. This will let you know whether you are investing in a community that will pay off for you in the long run.

Age of development: Determine what kind of neighborhood you are most comfortable living in. If you are a younger family, newer developments may provide the chance to meet other families that share your life interests and experiences. On the other hand, more established communities would likely have more mature landscaping, bigger lot sizes and, possibly, larger bedrooms.

Neighborhood amenities: If you have children, you might be most interested in one that has a community swimming pool or playground. Empty nesters may prefer a clubhouse that provides social activities, that will allow them to connect with others. Individuals who are retirement age may be more interested in maintenance free living and lifestyle amenities such as a golf course.

Keeping these things in mind, as you shop for your next home, will pay big dividends in the long run.