Starting the search for a new home can be both exciting and a little daunting. Whether Austin has been home-base for years or a brand new place, deciding which neighborhood to buy a house in can be a big decision. If you could live anywhere, where would you go?
Generally speaking, the house hunt is restricted by factors such as price and commute. But that is only the start. Some other things to consider are schools, crime rate, taxes, traffic, and proximity to shopping or parks. The list of things to mull over when looking for the right neighborhood can get quite long.
Spending some time compiling a list of the most desirable aspects of a neighborhood–a dream neighborhood–is a good place to start. Thinking of the smallest details like sidewalks or bigger particulars like typical lot size can help narrow the list before the house hunt actually begins.
Here is a typical list of neighborhood specifics for a family relocating to a new area:
- In a good school district.
- Sidewalks and running trails throughout the neighborhood.
- Close to parks and pools.
- Reasonable neighborhood association fees.
- Reasonable taxes.
- Low crime rate.
- Within a ten minute commute to work.
- Close to shops and restaurants.
- Away from busy streets or main thoroughfares.
- Other families in the neighborhood.
This is just a sample of attributes a family may desire in a neighborhood. The list would look completely different for a young professional who may want the flexibility to bike to work or live closer to the entertainment district. The important thing is to come up with a few neighborhoods to focus on for the house hunt.
After compiling a list, spend some time driving and walking though the neighborhoods of choice. What might look good on paper may be a different story in reality. Even if a neighborhood looks nice and peaceful on a Saturday afternoon, the morning commute traffic could be awful on a Monday. Do some investigating by driving through the neighborhood at different times of day as well as different days of the week.
Getting out of the car and walking around a neighborhood can also be very enlightening. People tend to notice different things when on foot that can’t be seen from the street. Also, don’t be afraid to ask people’s opinions around the neighborhood. While it’s probably not a good idea to go knock on doors, talking to someone out watering the garden is the perfect way to get some insider information.
Next, head to the computer and search for information on the neighborhood through newspaper archives and other resources. The more information at hand the more informed one can be on the big decision of where to live. Also, look at neighborhood desirability by talking to your real estate agent about the stability of prices and how long houses tend to stay on the market in particular neighborhoods.
Perhaps the most important thing is to be flexible and keep and open mind. After all, settling in a new neighborhood is a big decision but also an exciting one.
Ki moved to Austin for school. After graduation, he got interested in the real estate. His website has information about Austin Texas real estate. It allows future owners to search the Austin MLS or read his blog with updated statistics on the Austin real estate market.
[tags]neighborhoods, house hunting, real estate agents, austin real estate, realtor, property, real estate[/tags]
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