It’s so easy to surf the internet and look for homes for sale. Sure, you know how many bedrooms and how many baths you want. Maybe a garage and a finished basement. Ranch? Colonial? You have an idea of what you want. But remember that the neighborhood is just as important because it can direct your lifestyle — safety, amenities, and convenience all play their part, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
NAR also says you can keep your home value up if you find the right neighborhood.
You can find the right neighborhood by getting information direct from the best sources – don’t count on second hand information from websites that claim to give you a complete picture of your neighborhood. How does a website know what’s right for you?
• Make a list of activities you need nearby — health clubs, parks, playgrounds, churches and other activities and amenities that you need regularly and the stores you need to use frequently. If your favorite places are not nearby, how far away are they? Are there other comparable places nearby that you’re willing to use?
• Check out the school district. The education department in your town can provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special activities. The New Jersey DOE provides a ‘report card’ on every county and district including the specific schools you might need. Even if you don’t have school aged kids, if your house is in a good school district, it will be easier to sell later on.
• Check crime. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics — not only the level of crime, but also the type — burglaries, armed robberies — any trends of increasing or decreasing crime and the location of crime. For this, there ARE internet sites that can give crime statistics. Bring up the local on-line newspaper. Look to see who is going to the clinker and for what reason.
• Look for economic stability. Spend time surfing the internet for information on the local economic departments of the area you will be moving to. Check for vacant or blighted businesses or homes. Most towns have at least one website. Go see what the residents are up to.
• Consider resale value. Your Licensed Real Estate Agent (ah, you knew I was going to fit this in there) can give you information about price trends, length of time a home is on the market (absorption rate) and can help you understand how well your home’s value will hold up.
• Hit the streets. After you’ve done the “drive around”, do a “walk-through” of each neighborhood you are interested in. Pick a warm day when people are out and available for chatting. Look for tidy, well maintained homes, quiet streets and other indicators of neighborhood stability. There is ALWAYS that one person in the neighborhood who loves to give the lowdown on the area including the pros and cons.
Buying a Dream Neighborhood takes as much planning and research as finding your Dream Home.
To find Dream Homes in MY Dream Neighborhoods, visit my website at: http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com