Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August 2015 | Page 79

Just Residential

Know your

Neighbourhood
W

hen moving into a new neighbourhood
one always needs to consider if the
area itself is right for you. A number of
standard checks should be under taken before any
major move to
Crime rates
Before moving into an area, do some initial research
into the crime statistics of the area. Crimes such as
hijacking and car thefts are impor tant to take into
account especially if you are planning on off street
parking, while more serious crimes such as muggins
and house-breaking create more concern.

The old oaks lining your
road may be scheduled for
demolishment in the coming
moths, removing much of
the areas charm that you fell
in love with to start.
If possible, make a trip to the community police
station to get an idea of the types of crimes most
experienced, and the quality and affectability of the
local police force.
Noise and traffic
Plan a serious of trips at different times of the day to
the neighbourhood, to get a sense of the different
Just Property Magazine

What to Consider before you Buy
traffic patterns and where, if any bottlenecks take
place. A road that is quite during the week may
become a busy thoroughfare during the weekend
due to its vicinity to the neighbourhood church or
spor ts centre.
Speak to the neighbours to get a sense of the
general age of the area. A neighbourhood with
younger homeowners may experience more late
night par ties, while areas with young families could
result in children’s par ties during the weekend.
Schools
Schools with a high academic or spor ts performance
create a high demand for the surrounding proper ty.
Family will need a place to send their children to,
while a couple planning on star ting a family in the
future may want to know that there are options
available in the area.
Public services
Are streets clean and well maintained and will you
be comfor table with the level of services available
in the neighbourhood (such as police/fire stations
etc)? The regularity of the services offered by
the neighbourhood can play a large role in the
desirability of the area.
Future Plans
Finally, make sure to check with your homeowner’s
association about future development plans in your
area. The old oaks lining your road may be scheduled
for demolishment in the coming moths, removing
much of the areas charm that you fell in love with
to star t.
Issue 8 2015

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