Your New Neighborhood: The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Right Place To Live

Before you can find the perfect new location in which to live you need to do two things. The first is to sit down and think about what it is that you both need and want from your new neighborhood, and the second is to do some thorough research on areas that you are interested in to see which best meet these criteria. Happily, you can find some guidance on both these things in my post below. Read on to find out more.

Style of home

The first thing to consider is the type and style of home that you are looking for, because even if your chosen location meets all the other criteria if there is only small one bedroom apartment available in the area, it won't be much good for a family of five, will it?

Of course, the style of home that you are looking for will also be influenced by your budget, and it is worth noting that in less popular locations you can get a much larger or characterful home for a lot less money. Something that is often worth weighing against the other benefits of the location you are looking at me before making your financial decision.

Atmosphere

The overall atmosphere of the areas you are investigating is worth considering as well. This means looking at how well the other properties are maintained, as well as whether the streets are well lit at night.

You should also pay attention to the gardens and the amount of garbage on the streets. Also, don't forget to look at the local shops with a more significant percentage of empty or close down businesses, usually being a sign to avoid the area.  

Neighbors

It's not just where you live but who you share your community with that can make all the difference in making you safe and comfortable you feel in a new area as well. What this means is that it is worth researching into what your neighbors are like before you go through with a purchase.  

Of course, asking the current homeowners isn't likely to get you very far as they have a vested interested in selling their property, and may not be above lying to make a sale. Instead, it's worth asking other folks that live in the area, and even using online neighborhood apps to gauge whether there are any particular problems in the areas you are considering that you need to be aware of.  

Additionally, don't forget that an area which already has an active neighborhood watch and/or homeowners association is usually pretty safe, as these are run by residents. Something that shows they have a keen interest in the way people conduct themselves in that location.

On the other hand, community-run police programs may indicate the opposite, as there may be issues such as burglary that require an additional and more constant presence.

Crime statistics

In fact, as well as checking on the neighbors, it can be beneficial to do some reaching into the crime statistics in a neighborhood you are considering moving too. Luckily, such numbers are usually available pretty easily online, and they can tell you not only where crimes have happened regularly, but the type of offence that was committed as well.

Of course, places with a significant bias toward violent crimes will be one that you wish to avoid, but there are steps that you can take to counter the possibility of falling foul to other types of criminal activity. This includes installing advanced burglar alarm systems and window locks in areas with a high number of break-ins or keeping your vehicle safety locked in the garage if automobile theft if a problem.

Transport links

Another thing that is always worth investigating thoroughly before you decide on the area that you wish to move to is the transport links it has. Of course, some of this will depend on the type of lifestyle that you are looking for. After all, those in a city location are often happy to use public transport as long as it is regular and reliable as this can help them to save money owning and running their own car.

However, those with a more suburban-style life may find getting around in their everyday life tough without a car, and it is those people that will benefit most in checking the quality of the roads, as well as making sure that it is easy to get onto the main route, both in and out of the city.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a more private sort of life, you may welcome a spot that is harder to reach. You may even wish to look for a property that is set in its own land which makes it far more private and less accessible by the general public.

School

For families with young children and teenagers of school age, the education provision in the area they are moving oo is often top of their list of priorities. In fact, many move precisely because they wish their offspring to be able to get a place in a good school, the reason for this being that many school places are assigned by proximity.

This means that when deciding whether a school is the right one for your children it's best to do your research thoroughly. You can check whether the school has received a stem accreditation, which reflects the school's commitment to quality education. You can also others who have kids there what they think.

You can also augment this by looking up their results online, something that is usually available through the school website, as well as making a visit as well. Then you will be able to see what the place is really like on an average day.

Although, do remember to call ahead and arrange this as it's unlikely that schools will be able to provide such a service on the spur of the moment.

Shops  

Other facilities that can make all the difference to a neighborhood include the shops that are in easy walking and driving distance there. Once again, the type of lifestyle you live will often dictate what you will be looking for here, with those that buy a lot of fresh ingredients needing to be in close proximity to a supermarket or even an old-style greengrocer.

Many families also enjoy trips to the mall on the weekends as well, and being near one with a good selection of outlets and even eateries can make a massive difference to a family's quality of life. Therefore it is worthwhile considering this aspect of your neighborhood and exploring it before you make the decision to move there.  

Gyms  

For folks to whom fitness and exercise is an integral part of life, moving to a neighborhood without decent facilities can be a disastrous choice.

Of course for specialist activities like rock climbing and kayaking larger cities are usually the best as they will have facilities that have been custom built for training and competition in these areas. Although, ironically also more rural locations can work well for these particular pursuits, as they are both things that can be done in the great outdoors.

Luckily, the struggle to find suitable fitness facilities is less complicated for those looking for a decent gym to work out in. In fact, there are many gym chains like ClubFitness.us that offer services within a particular state, over a few different states, and even countrywide. Something folks looking for a gym that offers plenty of group classes, and a friendly atmosphere close to home to work out in will be relieved to know.

In fact, just as with any of the other facilty that you are looking for in your new neighborhood it never hurts to setup a tour, or visit before you make any decisions. Then you can be entirely sure that they have all the facilities that you need to be happy in your new area.

Entertainment

Finally, for some people, it is the entertainment, culture, cuisine and nightlife options that can help them make their choice on where to live.

Obviously, for the most diverse of these, you will need to consider an urban neighborhood, and it is usually the case that the closer to the central part of the city you look the more options you will have.

In fact, city centre locations often benefit from museums, art galleries, coffees shops, and higher-end restaurants, as well as the fringe culture that springs up around them. Something that can offer the chance to live a vibrant and fun life, without having to travel great distances to do so.

Of course, inner city life isn't for everyone, and those looking for a slightly less avant-garde scene are often satisfied with out of town entertainment centers that include cinemas, and restaurants. Happily, this is something that you can find in many large to medium size towns, or within a short car journey from them.

Summary

By thinking carefully about your wants and needs, you can make it easier to locate a neighborhood that would best suit you and your family when you move. However, it is also crucial that you follow through and make an effort to research the individual aspects that are of most importance for you if you want to find the perfect fit.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.