car and drive around it at peak morning and evening rush hours . If it ’ s easy to drive from place to place , then you have a winner . If not , then you might decide to cross the neighborhood off your list .
If a neighborhood you ’ re interested in is already fairly built out , it makes sense to research whether there are any major development projects in the wings . This can be done by visiting the local planning board ’ s website , or visit in person . Although it ’ s not a given that all proposed developments will be approved , a majority of them do make it from the drawing board to completion . So , if you are considering a neighborhood that is in store for major development in the next couple of years , you really need to weigh this factor in your decision .
Proximity to Schools , Stores , Hospitals and More
Another important consideration in choosing a neighborhood is the proximity of your new home to schools , hospitals , stores , parks and airports . If you have a family member who is disabled or sick , it makes no sense moving into a neighborhood that is far from the best medical facilities . If you are an avid runner you probably want to choose a neighborhood that is close to a park with a running trail . While some neighborhood associations take pride in the fact they ’ ve managed to block zoning changes that would allow a local convenience store , if you like to grab a hot coffee everyday on the way to work , then you have to take this into consideration before buying a home in a neighborhood that bans stores .
Rising Property Values
Finally , before you choose a neighborhood to move to , you should also examine whether the property values are trending up or down . You can easily check recent property sales online to find this out , or call your real estate agent and have her run the numbers . This is an important factor in case you decide to sell the property in a few years .
The point is to take your time and carefully research each neighborhood on your list of perfect neighborhoods until you find the one that most closely fits your needs .
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