8 Things to Look for in a Family-Friendly Neighborhood
Finding the perfect home can be a challenge. Not only do you have to worry about finding a home that looks good, is within your price range, doesn’t have too many problems and that is suitable for your needs, but you also have to pay attention to the neighborhood that it’s in too. The location of a home is important for any home buyer, but it can be particularly important if you have kids. Luckily, there are certain things that you can look for to help you ensure that you find a family-friendly neighborhood when buying a home, apart from making sure there’ll be enough space for you and your family!
1. Low Crime Rates
One of the most important things for you to look for when choosing a neighborhood is safety. Sure, things happen just about anywhere, and even the nicest of neighborhoods can fall victim to crimes every now and then. However, doing your research online and looking up crime statistics can help you determine which areas seem to be more prone to crime. In general, you will want to avoid these areas so that you can feel confident about you and your family’s safety.
2. Child-Friendly Amenities
Even the safest of neighborhoods can be quite boring, and you’ll probably want to look for a neighborhood that is safe because it is family-friendly, not because it’s filled with older people. One good way to find a neighborhood that will be fun for your kids is to look for child-friendly amenities in the area. If you choose a neighborhood that has plenty of parks, you’ll always have a place to take your kids. Choosing a home that is near museums, skate parks, community pools and other amenities that can keep your kids entertained can help ensure that they love where you and your family live. Plus, along with keeping your kids entertained, finding a place with the right amenities can be more convenient for you as well…and can help prevent you from dealing with the effects that can go along with having bored kids in the house.
3. Good Schools
Unless you are going to be homeschooling your kids, you’ll probably want to do your research about the schools in the area. If public school is your plan, compare various area public schools, and consider moving to a neighborhood that is in the best possible district. If you have fallen in love with a home and an area where the public school system is not the best, you may want to look into nearby private schools that might be convenient to your new home, affordable for your family and reliable for providing your kids with a good education.
4. Service delivery of the local municipality
See if you can find out about the quality of the local government’s service delivery. Garbage disposal, power interruptions, and lack of water supply can have a significant impact on your quality of life in your new home.
5. Condition of house
Evaluating how much it’ll cost to restore the house is yet another important consideration. If the damages are merely cosmetic, you’ll have to decide if living with it will be a problem. Damages that influence the functionality of the house, however, might not be as easy to accept. Take note of everything that needs repair and find out how much it will cost to fix it. Factor that sum into your decision to buy the house at the price it’s listed for.
6. Local schools
This is a rather obvious consideration, but often it gets overlooked. If you have children, you’ll want to check out what some of the closest schools are like. If they have an open day close to when you move in to your new home, be sure to stop by and see what they have to offer. Strike up a conversation with one of the local parents and hear what they have to say about the school they send their children to.
7. Surroundings
Take a drive around the neighborhood. Look carefully at the types of houses that surround your potential new home. Do the houses look like they are well maintained or completely trashed? Can you see yourself becoming well acquainted with your new neighbors? Once again, this can have an impact on your new life in your new home.
8. Local attractions
If you’re not keen on being a homebody, see what there is to do nearby. Are there any shops within walking distance? Is there anything to do entertainment-wise, such as a cinema or a bar? Sometimes things like this can make your new living space worth it or not. This is often one of the factors that can drive the price of the property up as well. If you’re not particularly bothered by the distance between you and local attractions, you’ll be better off looking for houses built farther away. You might save a few bucks and spend it on your new home.
Finding the perfect neighborhood for yourself and your family is probably very important to you, especially if you have kids. Luckily, if you look for the above-mentioned things, you can help ensure that you end up in a neighborhood that will be a good fit for your household. If in doubt, consider working with a real estate agent, who will be knowledgeable of the area and who can point you in the right direction.