When it’s time to begin our home search, WHERE we choose to purchase our home is just as important as the home itself. Whether you’re a first time home buyer or this is your second or fourth home, a crucial part to your home search is learning the neighborhood and surrounding areas.
Buyers can be very emotional when it comes to buying and selling their home but it’s important to look at your purchase from an investment standpoint. Find out what the housing market is like in your area of interest, is it on a financial incline or decline?
Research. Spend some time researching the area online. Your Realtors website will be a valuable source for information on specific areas of town. Many town’s also host sites with information and happenings.
Visit the area. Spend some time getting the feel and the lay of the land, if possible. This might be difficult if you’re in the middle of a cross country location but if you’re able, take a drive through the different neighborhoods, walk through downtown, and try a local restaurant. This will help you see yourself as a local and see how you’ll be spending your time and weekends.
Drive through the neighborhood at different times of day. What might seem like a quiet serene neighborhood during the afternoon could be anything but in the evenings.
Pay attention to the homes around you. What is the outside like? What are the neighbor’s properties like? Are the neighbors too close for comfort, or would you like your neighbors to be closer?
Consider your lifestyle. Another important thing to take into consideration is your lifestyle. Is your family active? Is it important that you are in a neighborhood that is good for walking, running or bike riding? Do you need to be near areas of cultural interest such as museums, universities, restaurants and shopping? How important is it to you that you are near a grocery store, bank and gas station. These might seem like small issues, but to a busy mother of a large family, proximity can be everything.
Make a list. Make a list of what’s important to you. Just as you make a list of what you would like to have in your home, make a list as of what you would like to have in your neighborhood – be sure to note what’s crucial and what you can sacrifice. Do you have a family or do you plan on starting one? Is the school system important to you? Even if children aren’t a factor for you, keep in mind that homes located in a good school district hold onto their value more than those in less highly regarded districts.
Often when you are buying a home you are buying into a neighborhood. It might take some legwork on the front end, but it will be completely worth it when you find the perfect home in a location that suits your lifestyle and interests.
Thank you to our site sponsors, Sophia Leece and Scott Boudreaux with LAH Real Estate. For more information on what’s happening in the Birmingham Housing Market, or to schedule a free home buyer/seller consultation, you can reach them:
Sophia Leece, 205.895.9120 | sleece@lahrealestate.com
Scott Boudreaux, 205.835.9787 | sboudreaux@lahrealestate.com
