Don’t Forget To Study These 5 Neighborhood Features

Buying a home can be one of the most important things you’ll do in life. One important feature that can’t be ignored is the location of the home you want to buy. If you’re a renter, this may have been something you’ve taken for granted due to the fact you could easily move at the end of your lease. But choosing a good location for your new home could mean the difference between living happily or living miserably.

Once you settle into a home, the last thing you want to do is move again soon. Your focus is on getting comfortable with your new neighbors and the surrounding community. Buying a home with an ideal location also raises your resale value for bigger profits.

Like most home buyers, you probably have a dream list of the ideal neighborhood. Take the time to find a home that matches the most important requirements on your list. Let’s go over the 5 features you want to consider when selecting a neighborhood:

1) Is The Neighborhood Safe? – Who doesn’t want to live with low crime? While everyone wants this positive feature, it’s not without a trade off. The outskirts of a major city tend to have less crime, but it also means you’ll have less shopping choices and fewer opportunities. You’ll also spend more travel time just to access these opportunities.

2) Amenities and Accessibility – These are important factors that make a big impact on your daily schedule. Daily activities such as work, children’s school, daycare, market, doctors, public transportation and entertainment consume a large portion of your time. Living farther from these resources means longer drive times and less free time for other activities. Think carefully about how much time you want to spend traveling.

3) Appeal of the Community – Some of you will prefer uniform master planned communities while others prefer the historic charm where a variety of home styles are displayed. Neighborhood characteristics such as the landscape, trees, and surrounding restaurants should match your tastes.

4) Schools – The quality of the public schools will be an important feature if you have children. Even if you don’t plan on having children, your home will have a higher resale value when you do sell. If your kids will be attending private schools, this feature may not be as important.

5) Are There Zoning Restrictions? – If you plan to remodel a home to suit your particular needs, be sure to check if the city has any zoning restrictions that might interfere with your plans. Some zoning regulations limit the changes you can make to a home. This ensures a uniform look throughout the neighborhood.

Want to find out more about buying an Orange County home? Then contact these local Orange County Realtors Realtors or check out these North Tustin homes.