Real Estate Shopping: How To Find The Right Neighborhood By Nancy Drew At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

When purchasing a home, there are many factors to consider. So many, in fact, that it is easy to overlook, or forget to research the neighborhood that surrounds your “perfect” home. Recently, I made a horrible decision about a neighborhood, which ultimately ruined my hopes for a quick turn around on my investment. Whether you are purchasing a home for yourself and your family, or as an investment, it is imperative that you understand the dynamics of the neighborhood.

Take the time to explore. If you are gregarious, with a penchant for organizing community events, and getting to know your neighbors by name, look for signals that the neighborhood is welcoming and open to your personality type. If there is no evidence that the homes in the neighborhood are inhabited except in the mornings and evenings, this is probably not the neighborhood for your community spirit. On the other hand, if you notice a few tire swings, families walking dogs, and signs posted announcing the next community meeting, you might have found the perfect spot!

One word of caution though; I recently read a story in the local newspaper about a neighborhood association that cited a homeowner for failure to keep his yard mown to specifications. The homeowner was rightfully upset in my opinion, because the untrimmed lawn was temporarily graced with a blanket of bluebonnets, whose short season of beauty should always take precedence over any neighborhood restrictions! When the gentleman pointed out the fact, the homeowner’s association rightfully rescinded the citation. Score one for nature and for Texas!

Visit your prospective neighborhood at different times of the day, especially weekends. Investigate all property restrictions and any homeowner’s associations that require membership. If possible, attend a homeowner’s meeting, and familiarize yourself with the names of the officers. Force yourself to knock on doors and introduce yourself as a prospective friendly neighbor. The neighbors are usually as curious about you as you are about them, and it is a nice way to show your interest in becoming part of a community.

If there are homes for sale in the neighborhood, do your homework! It is particularly important to know the facts about how long homes in the neighborhood have been on the market, as well as the asking price, and whether it has been adjusted. With the help of the Internet, this is an easy task, and will definitely help you make a wise decision.

If you have children, visit the schools your child will be attending. A school around the corner can be either a great asset, or a pain in the neck. Schools are usually very welcoming to visitors, and teachers are easy to meet, and schools are a great snapshot of the general make-up of a neighborhood.

Finally, look closely at any commercial areas that are near, or in the neighborhood. Like schools, nearby shopping can be wonderfully convenient, or horribly detrimental to your purchase. When I purchased my property for investment, I failed to perform my due diligence, which turned that deal into a real stinker! At first, I thought the corner store was great, but I had neglected to visit the neighborhood at night. I soon found myself saddled with a house located in the middle of a drug-infested area. The beautiful back yard I had looked forward to enjoying, was really just a way station for needle users and crack smokers. The local law enforcement in the small town seemed to have given up on attempting to control or shut down the thriving drug business that operated out of the store that was located just two houses down from the one I had so unwisely purchased.

With any major purchase, it is imperative that you research as much as you possibly can. I learned my own lesson the hard way when my property was invaded and most of my personal belonging stolen to feed someone’s drug habit. Fortunately, I was able to resell the house, but it took me six months. I hope that my experience will serve as an example of how to make the worst mistakes possible in a home purchase, and that you will learn to avoid making regrettable choices.

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