Sometimes the hardest part of choosing a new home is choosing a neighborhood, important because you are not just buying a house and lot in a vacuum… you are also buying the neighborhood where you will live.
What could be a real positive for one person might be a negative for another. For instance, I have had clients specifically ask for a property on a bus route… and other clients specifically state they won't even look at properties on a street major enough for a bus route.
The same even goes for parks. While most people like having the open green space nearby, some consider the added activity that goes with a nearby park a negative.
Only you know what is important to you, and it is just as important to know what you don't want as what you do want!
Here are some things to consider when shopping neighborhoods…
- Visit at different times of the day – a neighborhood can have a very different feel at night, during rush hour, at the beginning or end of the school day, etc
- Consider commuting costs – take into account how much you will spend in both time and money on your commute, as well as wear and tear on your car, parking… and ease of public transportation if that is something you plan to use
- Talk to people in the neighborhood – one of the best ways to get a feel for a neighborhood is by talking to people who already live there… it can give you a feeling for the fabric of the community and whether it fits what you are looking for in a neighborhood
- Use the Internet – resources such as www.walkscore.com can be useful, city websites such as Minneapolis Neighborhood Profiles can be helpful, or simply Google your neighborhood… you may be surprised at how much information you find on the web, or even just at my sites www.HomesMSP.com and www.HomesMSPblog.com… this fall 'Where is HomesMSP' will be visiting different metro area neighborhoods
- Promixity to what you do – consider the convenience of not just commuting to work, but for recreation, schools, shopping, entertainment, dining, church, clubs, coffee shops, etc.
I think of your neighborhood as additional 'rooms' in your home… are they rooms where you will enjoy spending time, or rooms you will avoid?
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email – HomesMSP.com
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