Drive Around
Does it look like a place you’d like to live?
Is it near places you’d like to go?
Is it too near places you’d rather avoid?
What will it look like during commuting time?
What’s it like at night?
Quality of Schools
What is the school performance?
Average test scores?
Capacity of school in relation to # of students?
Parent involvement?
After school activities, teams?
Education/Income Profile
What is the household income?
The education level?
Occupation?
Family type?
Cultural Amenities
Proximity to museums, galleries, universities, seasonal entertainment,
theaters, orchestras, etc. Even if you don’t frequent them, they
help set the tone for the area.
Property Values
Steady or increasing values generally mean a sound investment. It is almost
always best to buy the smallest, least expensive home in the best neighborhood
you can afford.
Future Growth
If you are not planning on staying in your new home for a number of years,
an abundance of new construction being planned could affect your resale.
Equally true, however, is the existence of higher end properties could
increase the value of yours.
Your REALTOR is your best source of information on property and neighborhood
information. There are also numerous Internet sites, such as REALTOR.com,
Homes.com, Homeadvisor.com, schoolmatch.com and others, that can assist
you in your research.
|
|