What to Look for When House Hunting in a New Neighborhood

Moving out of your apartment and into a home is a significant life change. Not only do you have the opportunity to live in a new space, but a new home also gives you the chance to build wealth. Buying a home is exciting but also permanent. You should, therefore, choose a neighborhood that satisfies your lifestyle for many years.

What should you look for when house hunting in a new neighborhood? Read on to find out.

Home Prices

Rising home values are a sign of a good neighborhood. You may want to consider a community where home values are climbing at rates higher than the national average.

The median price of single-family homes is about $232,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. It is ideal for you to pick a home in a neighborhood that is growing at least 10% faster than the national average.

One way to ensure that you are moving into a community that values rising home prices is by taking a look at the condition of the houses on the block. The life expectancy of a TPO roof is about 20 years, whereas an EPDM roof may only last 15 years. A PVC roof can last up to 30 years.

You should be mindful when the homes in the community you are considering have roofs in need of replacing. Such could be a sign of neglect, which could lead to lower home values overall.

Income And Jobs

Employment is another factor you should take into account when thinking of where to purchase your new home. High unemployment rates and low incomes are signs of a community headed in a downward spiral. Homeowners are not able to make major renovations if they barely earn enough to cover the mortgage.

You should consider neighborhoods in which the median income is well above the national average. It may also be beneficial to look for homes in communities where major corporations are building work hubs nearby. Not only do such offices add to home values in the neighborhood, but new job opportunities also create more earning potential overall.

If you are in search of a home, Precondo has the perfect neighborhood that is spacious and luxurious at Woodbridge. The community offers a variety of shopping, food, and scenic views that is bustling with economic activity

Schools And Safety

Schools are important even if you have no plans of rearing children in the near future. Realtor.com recently conducted a survey in which 91% of prospective homebuyers expressed the importance of nearby schools in their search for the right residence. Schools that excel academically are especially instrumental in raising home values, which adds to your overall wealth.

Of course, in addition to good education, there is also the matter of safety. There were nearly 750,000 hit-and-run accidents in 2015. Such a rate accounted for 11.7% of all recorded accidents that year.

You do not want to move into a community with a high probability of you being rear-ended when backing out of your driveway. It is best to find a home in a community in which the residents take pride in obeying traffic rules. Such an honor for the law could lead to lower auto insurance rates.

New Home Construction

Shutters grew in popularity by 15% in 2019. Wouldn't it be great to see these types of blinds in the windows of newly constructed homes on your block?

Some prospective homebuyers shy away from new construction for fear of being priced out of their homes in the future. Newly built homes in the community, however, are a sign of an evolving neighborhood, which is what you want as a new homeowner.

The new construction adds to your home's value. Your mortgage, meanwhile, can remain at a reasonable rate as long as you purchase before the new community is established.

Buying a new home is an exciting time in your life. You should, however, not run to the community that offers the cheapest real estate unless there are clear benefits for such a financial move. Ideally, you want to purchase your new home in a community with rising home values, a growing job market, and excellent schools. These factors will ensure that you get the most out of your investment.