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At Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., we know the location of your home is almost as important as (if not more important than) the home itself. That’s why we’re sharing our tips for choosing a neighborhood you’ll love.
If you’re investing in a home of your own soon, use these tips to make sure you’re happy with your choice.
Determine your own priorities
There is no such thing as a good or bad neighborhood, but one might be good or bad for you. Before you go house hunting, decide what matters most to you and your family.
- Would you prefer a calm, quiet neighborhood or a bustling, active area with more things to do?
- Is it important for you to be close to trees, parks and green spaces?
- Do you want to live in a neighborhood where you can walk to the grocery store and other nearby destinations?
- Are you looking for a neighborhood with young children nearby or would you prefer living in a community with older adults?
- Do you like living close to restaurants, concert halls and other nightlife?
- Is easy public transit access important to you?
- Do you want to live near museums, libraries and other larger public venues?
- Would you like to be able to go for walks and bike rides without worrying about traffic?
- Are you okay with noise from traffic and city life, or do you prefer quiet nights and crickets chirping?
Once you’ve decided what your priorities are, it will be easier to decide which neighborhood is a good fit.
Visit the area multiple times, if possible
Once you’ve picked a neighborhood to consider, visit it multiple times. If possible, spend some time there on weekdays and weekends, and visit both midday and in the evening to get a good idea of what it feels like at all hours of the day.
If you’ve got time, spend a few hours doing activities in the area—visit a museum, go grocery shopping, take your dog to a park, go on a walk with your kids, etc. This will help you get to know the area better. You may even get the chance to chat with locals and ask them about living there.
Look up commute times
You may be fine with a long commute, or you may want to prioritize a short commute that gives you more free time. Either way, it helps to know what you’re getting into when you move to a new area.
Look up traffic patterns and remember to factor in rush hour. If you’re driving home from the office in the middle of heavy rush hour traffic, home could seem much farther away than it does on a Saturday afternoon.
Research schools and school districts
If you have kids, consider their specific needs and research schools in the prospective area. Not every kid needs to be at the school with the most funding, but it’s important that the school has what your child needs to excel.
If you don’t have kids, school districts may seem less important, but remember that the quality of schools can significantly impact home values, so keep that in mind when you purchase a home.
Ask your real estate agent for information
Real estate agents are often familiar with housing prices and changes in property value. Ask them to share their insight with you. And since they regularly work to help people find homes, your real estate agent will likely have other information about the area you’re considering. They may be able to answer your questions themselves or point you toward helpful resources.
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