How To Do Neighborhood Research And Choose The Right One For You

So, you’re thinking about buying a home. Exciting times! It’s fun to envision what style of house you want, how big you want it to be, what your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” are and so on. You’ve likely been talking to a real estate agent about how many bathrooms and bedrooms you need, your target total square footage and other factors that will help their search for your next home.

But beyond the house stats lies an equally important factor – where to live and which neighborhood your new abode should be nestled in. Comprehensive neighborhood research is critical for a home search that ends well. This is especially true for first-time home buyers, so we created a guide to help.

Follow along for a list of all the factors you should consider as you perform your neighborhood research. We’ll show you the steps to researching a neighborhood to make sure it’s the right fit for you.

Factors To Consider For Neighborhood Research

Every prospective home buyer should come up with a list of factors that mean the most to them. Here are a few common ones to get you started:

Property Values, Taxes And Utilities

Before moving to a new neighborhood, it’s important to know whether you can afford it. Many factors will influence how much it costs to live there, like property taxes, home values and utilities. Remember, monetary considerations vary greatly by location. For example, even homes only a block away from each other can have very different tax bills each year, so be sure to do property-specific research (or have your agent do it) before you buy.

Noise Level

Looking for a peaceful, serene locale? Try to avoid noisy neighborhoods, often situated near city centers or residential areas next to airports. This can go both ways, though. If you like to have friends over for the occasional amateur rock concert, you may not want to pick a home in a quiet neighborhood or one connected to a homeowners association (HOA) with strict rules around noise.

HOAs

HOAs work for some homeowners – but they’re not for everyone. An HOA charges a monthly fee that covers the management of your property. If you don't mind paying a little extra each month to have lawn care or snow removal taken care of for you, an HOA may be a good fit. If you don't like being told what to do with your home, not so much.

Crime Rate

People want to feel safe in their homes, so research a neighborhood's safety to help ensure you live in a community where you feel your safety won't be compromised. Keep in mind that when looking at crime rates for a specific area, it can be helpful to look at local rates rather than overall U.S. crime rates to keep the numbers in context.

School District

If you have school-aged kids, it’s pretty obvious why choosing a neighborhood with good schools would matter to you. However, school districts should matter to you even if there are no school-aged kids in your home. School districts can directly affect home values, and if you decide to sell down the line, it can affect the size of your pool of buyers. While you may not have any stake in the schools today, the family that purchases your home in the future might.

Proximity To Local Necessities

Closeness to shopping centers, restaurants, grocery stores and other amenities might influence your location preference as you work on your neighborhood research. This is all about convenience. Is the home close to a town center with lots of restaurants and convenience stores? Or will you have to drive at least 15 minutes to reach any semblance of civilization? For some, neighborhood walkability is an absolute necessity, while others don’t mind driving a bit. It’s all about what works best for you.

If you rely on public transportation, you may want a place that’s closer to a bus stop or train station. If you drive to work every day, you should consider an area’s proximity to your job or how easy it would be to get to the expressway from your house.

You should also take a look at how close the nearest hospital is, as well as other necessities, such as doctor’s offices, veterinarians and auto repair shops.

How To Research A Neighborhood Before You Move In

One of the most important principles of quality neighborhood research is not outsourcing all of it. Only you know what you really want, so do the work firsthand before moving into a new house. Follow these four steps to learn how to thoroughly check out a neighborhood before moving in.

1. Observe The Neighborhood

Sometimes the best research tools you’ve got at your disposal are your own two feet. When you’re house hunting, don’t just tour the home. Walk down the street and get a feel for the neighborhood. If you happen to meet a neighbor outside, ask them how they like living in the area. They’ll be your best resource on what life is like there.

2. Use Online Tools

After you’ve browsed the neighborhood in person, it’s time to surf the web. An online resource that pulls together neighborhood information in an easy-to-search tool, like our home search tool, will be your best friend. Enter an address to learn about a home and the neighborhood and town it’s in. You can see the ratings of all nearby schools, learn more about the neighbors living in the area and get a list of popular nearby amenities.

Another online tool that will be your best friend during your neighborhood research is Google Maps. Use it to find out what amenities, restaurants and stores are in the area and see how long of a walk or drive it is to reach those places. You can also route your commute and see what your drive to work would look like.

3. Check Out Local Online Communities

Next, scour online groups for information on your prospective neighborhood. Look for informal online groups and read through their chatter to gain valuable insights. You should get an idea of local events and community activities. All that detail should help you determine whether the neighborhood is the right place for your lifestyle and hobbies.

4. Ask Your Real Estate Agent

Your real estate agent or REALTOR^® is basically a neighborhood expert and should be well-versed in the local market and any amenities that are important to you. If you have a few neighborhoods or gated communities in mind, it may be beneficial to choose an agent who has experience working with homes in those areas.

The Bottom Line

If home is where the heart is, make sure your heart is in the right place. The interior and exterior of a home are critical, but the community the home sits in might be the difference between happily ever after and house hunting soon after you move in.

Ready to get started on your neighborhood research? Begin the home buying process and match with a qualified agent today.