4 Things to Look for in the Neighborhood Where You Are Considering Buying a Home

When you start thinking about looking for a new home to buy or rent, one of the first things you should always consider is the neighborhood you will be living in. Nothing can be worse than falling in love with a new home, only to find out it is located in a less than an appealing neighborhood.

To ensure your ideal home is truly perfect, you will want to do your homework on the location of the neighborhood where the property is and whether this is somewhere you can see yourself living.

Everyone will have their own needs and preferences, but here are some of the most worthwhile things to look for in the neighborhood where you are considering buying a home.

1. Schools

One of the most important things to think about regarding any neighborhood where you are thinking about buying a home is the nearby schools. This is obviously a big thing for parents and anyone planning on having children in the future, as access to quality schools will always be a vital factor when looking for a new house.

The general location of the school within proximity of your neighborhood is also important, as some people will not be able to make longer commutes, making a nearby school very appealing.

For those that don’t require a school, still be mindful of where they are located in relation to the neighborhood, as a reputable school will drive up property values in the area.

2. Crime

We all want to live in a safe, crime-free neighborhood, but that isn’t always possible for everyone, especially when considering your budget. Still, living in an affordable neighborhood doesn’t necessarily mean it is a dangerous place to live, so it is so important to research this as the last thing you want is moving into a home to then discover it’s located in an unsafe neighborhood.

There are many ways you can check how safe and secure a neighborhood is, with various websites offering a quick and easy way to check the crime history of virtually any address, including the types of crimes committed (e.g. property crime, violent crime etc.) and how they compare with other neighborhoods.

3. Local Amenities

Regardless of your age, marital status or the size of your family, you will want to live in a neighborhood where there are local amenities. Different people will be looking for different things, whether it’s kid’s clubs, shops, bars, restaurants, sports centers, or dog parks, so be sure to look for things that appeal to your lifestyle.

Of course, certain amenities will take priority over others, so consider what is vitally important and what is more of a convenience.

4. Sidewalks

An often-overlooked thing to consider when looking at neighborhoods, sidewalks can reveal a surprising amount of information about a place. For instance, a lack of sidewalks indicates it’s not the safest place for walking, as well as suggesting a lack of nearby parks, shops, playgrounds etc.

This may be less of a priority for certain people. For instance, if you don’t have children or a dog that needs to be walked then it may not matter too much if the neighborhood is lacking in sidewalks.

Inland Empire Escrow  provides escrow services for a diverse variety of real estate transactions.  With offices in Chino CA and San Bernardino CA, we quickly and professionally service all the surrounding cities such as Chino Hills, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Riverside, Redlands, Colton, Grand Terrace, Yucaipa, and more.  To hear more about our escrow services for residential, mobile home, short sale, REO, bulk/business sale, 1031 Exchange, or agricultural escrow, contact us today at (800) 917-9387.