The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.
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Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, shopping—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.
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Check out the school district. You can find information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider 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.
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Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Police departments often post neighborhood crime statistics online. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type of burglaries and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?
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See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. Are homes tidy and well-maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly?
