Your dream neighborhood may seem like a easy choice, location, location, location is everything. Right? It may not be that easy. Location is not everything when you’re searching for a home. Your dream neighborhood maybe easy to pick, but once you factor in budget, non-negotiable home features, and proximity to the things you can’t live without, it may be less obvious where you should live.
When it comes to searching for a new neighborhood, here’s what you need to know.
1. Property taxes - taxes can play a huge role in your overall cost of living.
2. Safety and crime - As with all homebuying decisions, determining what level of crime you feel safe with is all part of the process of choosing a neighborhood.
3. Neighborhood features - School zones come to mind when thinking of location, especially if you have children (or plan to have them soon). If schools are important to you, evaluate the schools in a neighborhood and which homes fall into which district. Additionally, there may be community centers or parks that increase the value of the neighborhood.
4. Commute to work - How long does it take to commute for a neighborhood to your present place of work. Not just morning, but after work too.
5. Topography/Geography - Hate to say this in Houston, but are you looking in a flood prone area.