How to scout out the best place to call home
13 octobre 2007 – 20:33Once you’ve become pre-qualified for a loan, you should be ready to put your house-hunting efforts into full gear. But don’t skip the important step of scouting out neighborhoods before you start your search for the perfect house.The neighborhood in which you live will heavily dictate your whole way of life—things like walking to a nearby park with your kids, knowing your kids are attending good schools, feeling safe when your children play outdoors, being close to restaurants and shopping, enjoying a short commute, and knowing your home will appreciate at a healthy rate.
Of course one way to get started in your neighborhood search is to get in your car and explore, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area. Get an idea about the neighborhoods by driving around and seeing which areas appeal to you. Walk around, explore, and talk to some of the residents.
Take note of the general appearance of the homes. Are they well maintained? Are they nicely landscaped?
If you have children, you might be looking for a neighborhood with plenty of children around, as opposed to neighborhoods that attract more seniors or young singles.
Other factors you’ll want to consider are the schools, crime, your family’s specific needs, and appreciation - as in how much the value of the home is likely to increase.
A good Realtor will be very familiar with all the neighborhoods in the area and should be able to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of the specific neighborhoods you’re eyeing.
The School District
Even if you don’t have school-aged children, buying a home in a district with good schools will be in your best interest. When and if you sell the home at some point in the future, future buyers with children will likely consider good schools their top priority. And neighborhoods with good schools typically attract more buyers.
There are various sites on the web, such as Homestore’s School Reports, in which school reports are just a few mouse clicks away. Basically all you do is enter a geographical area or zip code and it will display ratings for the school system. Also:
- Ask your Realtor about information on schools in the area.
- Talk to people in the neighborhood, especially people with children.
- Standardized test scores are also available on the Internet. (Click here to go to Homestore’s School Reports.)
- Visit the schools and take a tour if you have children. It’s important that your decision isn’t based purely through facts gathered online. Get a true feeling for what the school is like.
One Response to “How to scout out the best place to call home”
Yes, you’re right. Checking the neighborhood before you finally choose a house to live in for a life is as important as choosing a house that is suitable for you and your family. Especially when you have children. If you’re interested check out my review of Toronto neighbourhoods. You can find a lot of lovely places to live there.
By Toronto neighbourhoods on jan 11, 2008