Use These Seven Tests to Decide If a New Neighborhood Is Right for You
It goes without saying that when shopping for a home you’re thinking about buying, you need to make sure it doesn’t harbor any hidden problems, but it’s equally important to do a deep dive into the area you’re considering moving to. But while you can look at crime statistics and compare property values, how can you know whether you’ll personally feel comfortable in a new environment?
Here are seven strategies you can try to test the vibe of your potential new neighborhood before signing a lease or taking out a mortgage.
Take a walk around your neighborhood instead of driving around.
Whether you’re a walker or a firm believer in driving to the end of your driveway to pick up the mail, taking a stroll through an up-and-coming neighborhood is an effective way to appreciate its overall feel. If you have a dog, walking him there will be just as effective (and you might feel more comfortable). A walk will show you whether your area is bustling with activity at any time or whether it is very quiet. You will feel whether the neighbors communicate a lot or keep to themselves. This will allow you to know if the area matches your energy or if you will feel bored or irritable living there.
The walk also gives you the opportunity to meet the residents and chat with them for a bit. A little casual conversation can reveal a lot about the character of a place and whether people are happy living there or gritting their teeth every day.
Take walks at different times of the day
Walking is a good method, but so is sitting. Go to your new potential neighborhood at different times of the day and just sit there for a while and listen. Noise is one of the top complaints people have about their neighbors, but it can be difficult to notice when you’re actively touring a home and working with a real estate agent. After sitting and listening for a while, you’ll know if the area is filled with barking dogs, screaming children, loud train tracks, blasting stereo systems, or violent arguments.
Try short term rentals
If you have the time and flexibility, look for short-term rentals in the area you’re considering. A short mini-vacation will give you a day or two to see what daily life might be like there. You’ll also have the opportunity to find out how walkable it is, what the local shopping and nightlife options are like, even how easy it is to find street parking. If you can’t wait to get out of there in a few days, you’ll know everything you need to know about whether it’s the right place for you.
Nightlife preview
Walking and exploring the area are effective ways to appreciate the atmosphere, but be sure to include a few weekend evenings in your schedule. An area that is completely silent on Monday morning may turn into a huge party on Friday night, which may or may not be what you are looking for. If you can, check this out while you’re on vacation too: an area that regularly hosts parties or other social events to celebrate these events will have a very different atmosphere than a place where everyone keeps to themselves.
Even if you don’t intend to rent out a room, you might want to consider redirecting your nightlife to a new area for a few nights. Visit several restaurants, bars , cafes or other establishments. When you live there, these will be your favorite places, so knowing whether they are walkable, always crowded, incredibly noisy, or just doesn’t suit your pace is valuable information.
Check out grocery stores
There is an absolute hierarchy of grocery stores, so you should check out the options in your potential new area. High-end stores will be clean and well-stocked, with fresh products, but at higher prices. Thrift stores can be a frustrating place to shop and may indicate that an area is in a downward spiral. And the lack of local options and the need to drive to a big box store —or having dollar stores and convenience stores as your only grocery options—can make life there much more difficult. How you feel about your local grocery store situation may depend on your lifestyle, but it’s worth making sure the stores meet your expectations and needs, whatever those may be.
Check your commute
If you plan on regularly commuting to and from work, school, or other locations, give it a couple of test runs. Get to your intended area a little early, start the clock and start your journey from there. Whether you drive or take public transportation, this will be the best way to figure out whether your commute will become much, much more of a nightmare, much easier, or no change at all.
Check your local calendar
When checking out any area, you should look at any list of community events in the area that you can find. Many communities have public websites with information about upcoming festivals, parties, and community events such as local theater productions. You can also visit your local chamber of commerce for event information.