There’s a lot to consider when you’re looking for your new home. You should probably decide in advance how many bedrooms or bathrooms you’re looking for. However, that doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker because you can always remodel a home or add more rooms. What you can’t change about your new home, though, is the neighborhood. The neighborhood in which you buy a house affects not just your capacity to enjoy it but also your potential to watch its value increase over time. Whether your property is in the most desirable neighborhood in the region or one that is expected to improve in the coming years, it’s critical to keep an eye on the features of the area that indicate you’ll have interested buyers when the time comes to sell. So, in this article, we will go over some of the neighborhood amenities you need to look for when buying a home.
How To Find A Good Neighborhood
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a home that fulfills all of your desires. However, real estate experts say it’s more vital to pay attention to the neighborhood. After all, you can remodel and repair a house, but you can’t change its location. That means you also can’t change your neighbors or the community’s feel. So, it all comes down to one thing when determining which neighborhood to pick: research. You can rely on your real estate agent to point out essential features and learn about homeowners’ association laws, but you can’t rely on them for everything. To get the best information, you’ll need to put in the work yourself.
Shops
First of the many neighborhood amenities to look for when buying a home is the proximity of grocery stores and other markets. Unless you get your groceries delivered regularly, you’ll undoubtedly go to the market at least once a week. Having access to good food is a desirable bonus for most homeowners, and it may impact the value of your property. Moreover, a neighborhood’s accessibility to retail businesses might be an indicator of future growth.
Schools
Even if you don’t have children, purchasing a home in a neighborhood with excellent schools might be a wise investment. This is because schools have a significant impact on a home’s resale value. Moreover, just because you don’t have kids right now doesn’t mean you never will. If you’re a first-time buyer, it might be wise to think a few years into the future and plan ahead. An easy way to research school quality is to go to the local school district’s site and download the report cards for all nearby schools.
Parks & Green Spaces
Parks and green areas are another amenity to search for in a neighborhood. These are wonderful areas for kids to play, exercise, and learn about nature. Since the start of the pandemic, they’ve become even more crucial, allowing individuals to safely leave the house and get some fresh air.
Fitness Centers
Are there any fitness facilities near the house you wish to buy? If you care about your fitness, you should look into local gyms, especially if you don’t want to work out outside. When it comes time to sell, being close to a state-of-the-art gym might be quite appealing to many purchasers. Furthermore, being close to great local gyms might inspire you to start working out more.
Entertainment & Leisure Facilities
Is there a movie theater, a bar, a museum, a sports field, or a swimming pool near your potential future home? Entertainment facilities, particularly for young people, bring a community to life. However, this isn’t only important to the younger crowd. Everyone needs time away from their hectic activities to unwind and enjoy themselves with their family and friends. So, if you’re thinking of buying a retirement home, this is also something you should look into. Living near facilities such as these will keep you active over the years.
Healthcare Facilities
Access to a hospital is crucial when choosing a house to buy. All people, but especially children and seniors, require quick access to medical care. In the event of an emergency, you need to know that you can get medical help swiftly.
Public Transportation
Most people commute from one location to another every day. That’s why access to public transportation is very important to some buyers. Public transportation is a crucial enhancement for every community, from commuting students to employees who wish to get from home to work. Furthermore, as more individuals choose sustainable lives, demand for nearby public transportation has increased in the past few years. This is because, in order to save money and reduce pollution, more individuals are leaving their own cars in favor of trains and buses.
Renovating A House In A Good Neighborhood
Like we said before, while the location is very important, the house itself can be changed over time to better suit your needs. Many people prefer buying a fixer-upper in a good neighborhood and renovating it after their wishes. This can be a better, more profitable solution. However, it can also be a challenge if you live in the house while you’re renovating. All your stuff can get in the way, and you might have to move it around the house to finish all the work. Luckily for you, there is a solution for items in your way. You can always rent out a storage unit to store your excess items during the renovation.
In Conclusion
When you buy a home, you are purchasing more than just the structure of a house. You’re also picking the neighborhood in which you’ll spend the next few years of your life. Your neighborhood has a significant influence on both your quality of life and the value of your house. That’s why it’s crucial to know what neighborhood amenities to look for when buying a home. Even if you don’t plan on using all those amenities, it’s good to have them in mind.
