If moving is in your future – congratulations! It is exciting to be out looking at housing and envisioning how life in a new house is going to be. However, many buyers get so excited about the house they’ve fallen in love with that they sometimes overlook the actual neighborhood where they soon may be living and the logistics about living there and getting around.
So what do you need to be aware of when considering a home in a new area? Here are five things to consider:
1. The time of day when you first lay eyes on a prospective house can affect your impression of the neighborhood, so visit at various hours. Visit early in the morning, afternoon, and the evening to get an idea of how the light travels through the area throughout the day. The same can be said for neighborhood traffic congestion, which can change dramatically. Also be aware of noise and even smells! Airport traffic can vary throughout the day as can local industry production and activity on local farms. Many purchase and sale contracts allow for a period of time to review the neighborhood for factors such as this.
2. Neighborhood choice can be a pocketbook issue, and not just because of house prices and property taxes. While you’re paying attention to home prices and subsequent mortgage payments, remember to calculate the actual cost of a commute – both in time and money. You may even be pleasantly surprised if there are public transportation facilities located nearby!
3. Be sure and meet the neighbors. Doing your research includes getting to know the neighbors. Find out what they love about their neighborhood, and what concerns them. You might be surprised to learn about trails and other nearby recreation opportunities that you might miss if just searching on your own. If you’re looking at a condo or in an area with a homeowners association, ask neighbors who live there how effective the association is. Make sure you get recent publications from the association and visit their website.
4. Get stats from your agent before you make an offer, make sure your agent provides you with a price analysis to make sure you are getting good value for your money. We at Referred Real Estate look at a variety of factors such as neighborhood price appreciation, the relationship between assessed values and sold values, and price per square foot. These and other factors help us evaluate a property against market value.
5. And check out the area online. Look for websites include school information and crime statistics for the area you are looking in. These can be valuable pieces of information when doing your research. In addition, see if the neighborhood has a Facebook page or other online resource.
Remember – house hunting isn’t just about finding the perfect floor plan and the best back yard for relaxing and entertaining. It’s also about finding an area that suits you now, and boosts maximum resale value when it’s time for you to sell, in order to buy your next home.
If you’re ready to start the buying process, give Jennifer a call at (509) 947-5670 or Jessica at (509) 947-2230.
