How to Find the Right Neighborhood for Your Family
You've finally found the home of your dreams. It's got great light, huge closets, and it's in your price range. But before you sign on the dotted line, it's important to venture out and make sure the neighborhood meets your expectations. Safety, of course, is the major concern, but there are other points to ponder as well. Crime stats, school ratings, and neighborhood amenities are just a few considerations. Read on to smartly assess your new home's surroundings (and then go pick out curtains).
1. Real Estate Reconnaissance. Count up the other homes for sale or rent on your block and visit a few areas nearby, too. If you find a large number on the market, it could be a negative: too many available spots might mean people are leaving the neighborhood. Empty apartments and homes can attract graffiti, trash, or worse.
2. Service With a Smile. You may not need take-out or puppy grooming on every corner, but look around for some of the more common businesses you tend to patronize. Go beyond banks and drugstores and seek out shoe repair, dry cleaner, a diner and the post office.
3. Details Matter. The condition of your neighborhood definitely plays a role, so take notice of sidewalks, tree wells, gutters, and surrounding buildings. Broken windows, dirty streets or falling-down fences may signal a population that doesn't care and this may impact safety.
4. Kindness Counts! Do people greet you in the lobby or elevator of your 'new' building? Are folks spending time outside, sweeping their stoops or planting flowers in window boxes? A community that takes pride in the neighborhood is one worth joining (and it doesn't hurt if people are on the friendly side.)
5. Chat Folks Up. You'll get the best information from your potential neighbors. Introduce yourself and then ask them how they feel about the area, whether they like living there and what they might change. You'll also have a chance to get to know them and imagine yourself living next door (great neighbors can make or break a living situation).
6. Hit the Sites. Save yourself some footwork and head online to research the areas you're considering. Zillow and Trulia offer details like maps with each real estate listing, ratings based on neighborhood quality and info on crime statistics and public transit. Or download HomeSnap's mobile app: when you see a house for sale or cool building on a pretty block, take a picture of it and receive the property's 411. 7. Cruise the Schools. Even if your child is still young, if you think you'll stay in this neighborhood for a few years, consider checking out a few school sites so you're ready when the time comes. Insideschools has the NYC public school skinny and GreatSchools allows you to cast a wider net (this site lets you search nationwide for both pubic and private schools). Read up on the districts and compare invaluable comments from parents and students.
8. Poll Your Family. Think about how you and your gang like to spend free time and then weigh this against the options you find in the neighborhood. If you're constantly at the Children's Museum, then an apartment within walking distance or at least a straight shot on the subway is a must. Ditto for a family of bikers: proximity to a path or designated lanes means you can still wheel to work and the kids can ride on weekends. And of course, a puppy in the mix definitely means seeking out a dog run or pooch-friendly park.
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