How to Choose a Neighborhood for Your Home Search

You’re ready to move to a new house. How exciting! This is a big life event and one you certainly want to get right. You’re not just buying a new house, but you’re also picking out a new community. Even if the house is flawless in every way, it won’t make you happy for long if it’s located in a neighborhood you hate or that is inconvenient for your lifestyle.

For this reason, we suggest you learn more about the neighborhood you’re considering moving to before you even start looking at houses for sale. If the home you’ve always dreamed of is in a bad neighborhood, it might as well be a nightmare.

Elements of a Good Neighborhood

You know you need four bedrooms, a big backyard, and a garage large enough for all your hobbies. You can probably rattle off many features you’re looking for in the house itself, but what about the neighborhood? How do you know if a community is a good one? Here’s what you need to find:

It Should Be Near the Places You Go on a Regular Basis

Beyond just your workplace, how close is a neighborhood to your gym, the kids’ school, your doctor, your favorite restaurant, your extended family, your church, your best friend, and other places you go on a regular basis? Do you head into Winston-Salem a lot? Use Google Maps to estimate travel times and calculate the proximity to highways and major roads.

All of Your Needs Should Be Met

Beyond what you need in a home, what do you need in a neighborhood? A few simple examples would be good schools for your kids, a bike path, and a dog park. Do you need a pool to swim laps in? Do you need access to 5G internet? Maybe you simply want peace and quiet!

It Promotes a Sense of Community

For a neighborhood to reach its full potential, it must foster a strong community feeling. A strong community provides residents with a sense of belonging. It helps them feel safe and welcome. Overall, community improves the quality of life in the neighborhood, which is something that every resident surely desires. 

If the neighborhood provides a variety of amenities such as parks, pools, open spaces, and trails, residents will have many opportunities to get outside and meet and connect with their neighbors.

The Numbers Are Good

It’s not all about how you feel; crunch the numbers! Online, you’ll be able to easily find all sorts of numbers, like the median home price in a neighborhood, how many people rent vs. own their homes, the average household’s income, and much more. What are the crime statistics in the area? How are the schools ranked? You want low crime rates and good school ranks. Purchasing a house is a big financial and emotional decision, so it’s worth basing this choice on the facts.

Tips on How to Choose the Right Neighborhood

Now that you know what qualities to look for in a desirable neighborhood, how do you really go about picking one? Are there ways to make your research more efficient? Below, we’ll provide you with some tips you can follow in choosing the ideal neighborhood. 

1. Know Your Budget

It’s important to ensure your budget is in order before looking for a neighborhood. If you know what kind of house you can afford, you’ll know which neighborhoods to look into. When house hunting, it’s easy to be tempted to stretch your budget, but don’t forget that it’s not just the cost of the property you should consider—you also have to factor in things like property taxes and maintenance costs.

2. Study the Property Values in the Area

Another good sign of a desirable neighborhood is that property prices are stable or rising. This indicates that the area has been growing in value, and that it will likely continue to do so.

3. Visit the Neighborhood and Walk Around

You can learn a lot about a neighborhood just by visiting it and taking in the sights. Look around to see what kind of condition the homes are in, and walk around to get a sense of the area. Talk to some locals, too; they’ll be able to tell you about their experience living in the neighborhood.

4. Drive Around the Area

It’s a good idea to drive around the area and experience what it feels like. Take note of nearby businesses, parks, schools, public transportation, and shops. This will also help you get an idea of what the commute will be like if you decide to move there.

5. Work With a Real Estate Expert

Working with an experienced real estate agent can be invaluable in helping you find the perfect neighborhood that meets all your needs. With their expertise and knowledge, they can help you narrow down your search and provide useful insight into each neighborhood.

Why Holding Village Is the Right Neighborhood for You

We are confident that when you look into Wake Forest neighborhoods, you will find that Holding Village is the best! Not only will you absolutely love your new house, but you’ll also adore the entire neighborhood as well. A community pool, expansive green spaces, and a large lake are only the beginning. Come discover the best in modern living!