| When relocating to a new area, one of the most | | | | service (MLS) of homes for sale. While national |
| stressful things can be choosing which | | | | home search sites will list homes in the area you |
| neighborhood to call home. Most people rely on | | | | are looking, the aggregate sites will not be as up |
| recommendations from friends and family already | | | | to date as the local MLS and an individual MLS will |
| living in the area; however, without that resource, | | | | most likely have more detailed information on the |
| it can be a shot in the dark. | | | | neighborhoods. Searching the MLS will allow you to |
| However, a little bit of research and forethought | | | | search for the type of home you are looking for |
| will allow you to choose a neighborhood that is the | | | | by price and by neighborhood. |
| perfect fit for your family. | | | | Once you have narrowed your search to five or |
| Know What You Are Looking For | | | | six neighborhoods, look up the school and crime |
| Before you start looking, you have to know what | | | | statistics online to compare. Check to see if your |
| you are looking for. If you could wave a magic | | | | short-listed neighborhoods have neighborhood |
| wand and conjure up the perfect place to live, | | | | homeowners associations. If so, what are the |
| what characteristics would it have? | | | | requirements and restrictions? |
| - Would it be in a rural, suburban, or urban area? | | | | Get the Inside Scoop |
| - What type of homes would it have? Would they | | | | A neighborhood can look good on paper and still |
| be new versus established or single family versus | | | | not be the best fit for you. Facts and statistics |
| a town home or apartment? | | | | don't tell the whole story. Pound the pavement |
| - What commercial amenities does it have? Do | | | | and get a preview of what living in a particular |
| you want to be able to walk to the corner coffee | | | | neighborhood will be like. |
| shop or drive 30 minutes to go out to dinner? | | | | - Visit the schools. Is the staff friendly? What is |
| - How close is it to your job and is public | | | | the atmosphere and culture of the school. |
| transportation available? Do you mind a long | | | | - Drive through the prospective neighborhoods at |
| commute, or would you like convenient access | | | | different times of the day, as well as on a week |
| with public transportation? | | | | day and weekend. What is the activity like? Are |
| - If you have children or are planning to, what are | | | | there cars racing through the neighborhood with |
| the schools like? Check both the public schools | | | | music blaring? |
| and well as the options for private schools. | | | | - Talk to homeowners in the neighborhood. Get |
| Identify Qualifying Neighborhoods | | | | feedback from people who are actually living |
| Once you have listed your criteria for a new | | | | there. |
| neighborhood, start narrowing down the locations. | | | | - Watch out for an excessive number of "For |
| The key point for most people is determining the | | | | Sale" or "For Rent" signs in the area. That could |
| outer radius from their job that they are willing to | | | | be an indication of an undesirable neighborhood. |
| commute. Keep in mind that an area that looks | | | | - In our online age, many communities have online |
| closer on a map may actually have a longer | | | | forums or message boards. Some of the most |
| commute time due to traffic patterns. In order to | | | | revealing details about the culture of a community |
| get an accurate measure of your commute time, | | | | and potential issues can be found in the |
| make sure to drive the actual route you will be | | | | comments and rants of local residents. |
| taking during the time you will be going to work. | | | | Be observant, take notes, and listen to your |
| Next focus on the rest of your criteria, the | | | | intuition. With careful planning, you can find the |
| easiest way to quickly narrow down the options is | | | | house and neighborhood that you will love to call |
| to find the web site for the area's multiple listing | | | | home. |