Moving to a new area represents an exciting chapter in your life, one full of new beginnings and a whole lot of work. There are so many factors to consider before you pack the first box, all of which will have a major impact on your overall happiness when you get the keys to your brand-new life. It’s essential that you plan ahead and take the time you need to make the right decision rather than rushing in. Consider these crucial factors in picking the perfect neighborhood so that you find your happily-ever-after locale.
Decide on Your Budget First
There’s nothing worse than falling in love with a specific area and then finding out that it is completely out of your budget. As such, before you get your heart set on a certain area and start looking deeper, temper your expectations.
While looking at the average home value in the area can be helpful, this may not actually capture the entire spread of home prices, so you need to look a bit deeper in order to understand what’s possible based on your own circumstances. For example, the Old City of Philadelphia is known for being quite expensive, but Old City condos actually run the gamut from a small studio for $175,000 to enormous properties well above $3 million. If you’re looking for a relatively small home, a costlier area may still be feasible.
You’ll also want to consider the cost of relocating, including what you can and cannot DIY when moving to save money. You might be saving long-term by moving to a cheaper area across the country, but you will have a significant upfront investment to get there.
Identify the Metrics That Matter Most
Everyone is looking for something a bit different in a neighborhood, whether that is wild nightlife or great schools. This means that you need to make a list of all the things you truly care about when it comes to a home and then compare all your options.
One great way to do this is to make a spreadsheet with a list of categories, such as crime rates, school district ratings, average temperatures, and the absence or presence of things like parks and recreational facilities. Make a list of everything you’d want in your ideal area, whether that is a skating rink or a shopping mall, and then decide on how you will assess these things, such as by distance, expense, and so on.
For example, if you’re concerned about environmental hazards like flooding, you can include the Flood Factor from First Street, which looks at the likelihood and severity of flooding in a given area. You may choose to rate neighborhoods from their proximity to a given facility you want, such as a good museum, or how many restaurants are within walking distance. These can all help you identify what it would be like to live there.
Visit as If You Live There
Moving to a new city requires a bit of fieldwork first, especially if you don’t want to live in a tourist area. To ensure that you will enjoy living there, you need to live like a local for a short period of time.
Book an AirBnB in or near the neighborhood that you want to stay in, and then, instead of simply sightseeing, visit the places that you would need during your day-to-day life, such as the grocery store, the local park and even the post office. If there’s public transit, practice taking it to places you’d need to go, like the health clinic or the business district, so that you can see whether it is comfortable and reliable.
It’s a good idea to visit several times during different parts of the week, such as during the week and on the weekend. You may be surprised by how different the place feels on a Saturday – or even if it doesn’t feel any different at all. This can tell you a lot about how it would feel to live there.
Review Local Forums
Places like Nextdoor or local Facebook groups can be a goldmine of information about how people truly live in a given place. By logging into these specialized forums, you can see common complaints people have about the government, infrastructure, or culture. While this is not a perfect representation of what you will experience as a local, you can get a general idea of what your neighbors may be like before you invest in a given area.
You’ll also get a good idea of what the local hangout spots are and whether there are frequent community activities, such as bake sales, festivals, and free concerts.
Choosing the Perfect Neighborhood Takes Data and Dedication
While it’s important to find a home you love, truly feeling at home includes finding a neighborhood that meets your needs, whether that is plenty of outdoor recreation or greater solitude. Checking your budget, identifying the most important factors of a home to you, and staying overnight to understand what it would feel like to live there are all essential considerations when seeking out the right living area. With a combination of research and real world experience, you won’t just identify the best home for your needs, but the best neighborhood to make your home.
Hey there, I’m Jennifer M. Lowes, but my friends call me Jenn. Born and raised in sunny California. By day, I’m a freelance makeup artist transforming everyday people into their best selves. By night, I’m here on this blog, sharing my favorite nail designs, makeup tips, hair styling techniques, and much more.