Finding the right neighborhood for you
Having a dream home in the wrong neighborhood can quickly become a nightmare. The community you choose to call home can make a big difference in your quality of life.
Finding the right community that fits your family’s lifestyle and needs is just as important a factor as square footage and number of bedrooms. When building or searching for your next home, think about finding the right neighborhood first.
I would advise creating a checklist of things that are important to you and your family in your new community. Here are some suggestions that may help narrow down the choices.
Quality of the school system
If you have school-aged children, this is usually a large factor in determining the location of your new home. Happily, there are many online resources for parents to research and compare schools within a city and state: GreatSchools.org, SchoolDigger.com and NeighborhoodScout.com are great places to start.
Although empty nesters may not use quality of the local school system as a heavily weighed factor in their choice of where to live, it may be something to consider for potential resale value in the future.
Getting to work
If you wish to spend less time commuting to and from work and more time at home, consider a location much closer to your workplace. Property taxes and HOA fees When you purchase or build a home, you aren’t just investing in the cost of the house. Depending on what city or county the neighborhood resides in, the property taxes you pay may vary.
Also, many neighborhoods have homeowners’ association fees that help pay to maintain common areas, such as a community swimming pool or nearby park. Make sure you are educated on what your future obligations to your HOA will be on a monthly or yearly basis when you look at your budget.
Average housing costs and history
Look at the median or average cost of homes in a given neighborhood. This will help determine what you can expect a house might cost for that community. Also, be sure to look at the history of the community to make sure the values of the homes have grown so that you are investing in a community that will pay off in the long run.
Age of development
Determine what kind of neighborhood you are most comfortable living in. If you are a younger family, a newer
development may provide the chance to meet other families that share your life experiences and interests. More established communities, on the other hand, will likely have more mature landscaping and bigger lot sizes. Referred to as “infill,” another trend is to create a new development within established communities, creating the best of both.
Neighborhood amenities
If you have children, you might be most interested in a neighborhood that has a community swimming pool or playground. Empty nesters might prefer a clubhouse that provides social activities which will allow them to connect with others. Individuals who are in retirement age may be more interested in maintenance-free living which includes lifestyle amenities such as a golf course, as well as the proximity to bike/walking trails, shopping and arts and cultural venues.
When beginning the search for the community that is the right fit for your lifestyle, visit www.HBADayton.com and select “developer” in our member directory. Contact the developer and home builder members of the Home Builders Association of Dayton to help you find the perfect neighborhood and make your dream home a reality.