Off The MRKT

View Original

Here's What You Need From Your New Neighborhood

When most people start to look for a new home, they get completely absorbed in looking for a property that they often forget to consider the neighborhood in question. However, it is really important that you consider the area in which the house is as this will have a big impact on your life. You need a neighborhood that will make you feel safe and settled as soon as you move in. Not too sure how you can figure out whether or not an area is going to help you with that? Here are a few things that you need to look out for to see if an area is the right one for you.

A Range Of Housing

Take a look at the other kinds of housing that are available in your area. Ideally, you want to see a mix of traditional houses and apartments for sale as well as a mobile homes sale as this good mix of housing is a great sign of diversity. Diversity can help all areas thrive as there is a great mix of cultures and ideas. You will find that some of the most diverse areas in cities are often some of the most creative and vibrant, making them a great place to bring up children.

Plenty Of Amenities

A good neighborhood also needs plenty of amenities that are easily accessible. When we talk about neighborhood amenities, we mean things like supermarkets, a doctor’s surgery, and other stores and shops. Ideally, most of these should be within walking distance or easy to get to on public transport. That way, you will be able to thrive in the area without a car if you don’t want to spend money on one. If you are moving with kids, you might also want to think about what activities there are for them to do - is there a movie theater, swimming pool, sports facilities, etc.? If you've got an area in mind, it might be worth doing a little research ahead of fully committing to it - a quick search for something like "things to do in hobbs nm" should give you an idea of what there is available for those living there to make use of. 

Good Schools

If you have kids, then you will no doubt want to know about the schools in the local area. In fact, most parents will move to a specific neighborhood on the strength of the schools alone. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that areas that have great schools are often very popular, and this could push up the average price of houses. Are you willing to pay over the market average just to get your kids into a good school?

A Good Community Spirit

When you view a house, it’s worth wandering around the neighborhood to try and get a feel for the local community. Try and find a community notice board to see if there are any local groups or organizations that you might be able to get involved with. A good community often means that there will be more to do, and this will make it a lot easier to make new friends.

Safe Walkways

Make sure the sidewalks all look like they are in good condition too. This may seem like a minor point, but good sidewalks will actually increase your safety when walking around. There’ll be less chance of you tripping, after all. It’s also a bad sign if there are no walkways at all and you need to walk directly on the side of the road.

So, what is your main neighborhood priority?

See this gallery in the original post