Which Neighborhood Is Right For You?

Don't put the horse before the carriage...Often I find that new home buyers or first-time home buyers will begin their home search by deciding first on what type of home they want. While that is important, the major factor that will help you decide that will be what neighborhood you want to live in.

After all, buying a primary residence is just about walls and a foundation, it's about a lifestyle that you crave and a future that you are planning for. Here are a few items to consider when choosing the right neighborhood for your next home purchase.

Walkability

What's your daily life like now? Do you enjoy access to local shops and restaurants? So much that you would be unwilling to buy a place that you have to drive to for everything? City living is often associated with great walkability and with it a huge selling point for people looking for that type of lifestyle. On the opposite end, it has its downsides with higher densities, noise, parking issues, and crime.

Safety

This can typically be found at the top of the list with any home buyer. Who doesn't prefer a safe neighborhood over a problematic one? The question because, how much safety can you afford? As you start your neighborhood search you'll find that the safer areas tend to pull in a higher price point. And as mentioned in the previous paragraph, it sometimes decreases your walkability with many gated communities or safer areas being further away from city living.

Schools

Buying a home is investing in you and your family's future. What better way to help that investment than by looking in an area that has great educational systems. If you have children or plan on having them, this is a no-brainer. There are plenty of sources online to check the school rating systems and help you decide if you want to look in a top to middle rating school district. 

Amenities

Parks, hiking, surfing, playgrounds. Everyone loves to have something to do close by, especially if that is outdoors here in San Diego. There are countless neighborhoods throughout the county that have great parks nestles within the community. Take a look at google maps and drive your top three neighborhoods to see if there are any homes for sale next to the amenities you may enjoy. In addition, if you are buying within an HOA development, you'll often find that a little micro-community is built along with the homes.

Need help in finding the right neighborhood for your home purchase? Feel free to contact us we look forward to being your real estate resource here in San Diego.