Finding Your New Neighborhood

by James Kim

Moving is an incredibly strenuous task in and of itself, but finding your new home could be just as stressful. One of the biggest components to finding the right house for your family is picking the neighborhood. Location is crucial, as any real estate mogul will tell you. If you know nothing about Austin real estate, for example, but you want to move to Austin, the process of finding a neighborhood could be extremely daunting. But not to worry -- there are several things to consider that can make your choice a tad easier.

1. Kids

Do you have children? If so, you will need to be near a school, preferably one of prowess. websites like Great Schools give you the rankings and standardized test scores of different schools in your area of interest. This could give you a better idea of what area is right for you. Of course, if you don’t have children, you probably don’t want or need to be near a school. However, keep in mind that being near a school can be a huge selling point and could help you sell your house later on down the road.

In addition to the school, you’ll probably want to get close to places like parks or a local pool if you have children.

2. Commute

How far is the area from your job? Is it near a congested intersection? Will you have to muddle through traffic every morning? If you can avoid being stuck in traffic daily, I think we can all agree that you should probably do so. Being close to public transportation could assuage your traffic situation.

You may also want to ask yourself how close your area is to amenities such as grocery stores, malls, restaurants, etc. While everyone wants a quiet area, it can be a huge burden to have to drive 30 minutes every time you need something at the grocery store.

3. Safety

This is probably the most important factor to consider when looking for an area for your new home. The Realty Times provides several excellent suggestions about how to investigate safety in your area, including inquiring at the local police department and talking to local business owners. You can also visit sites like Family Watchdog to examine general crime ratings and to check to see if any sex offenders live in the area.

4. The “Feel” Factor

Research can only tell you so much. In order to cover all your bases, visit your prospective neighborhood at several different times of day so that you’re not caught off guard later. Suppose, for example, that you are looking into a hip, downtown location. During the day, it could seem like the perfect find. But, at night, the area explodes with noise. You will want to be prepared for these types of scene-changes. A tenured real estate pro who specializes in the area will be able to help you get more of a “feel” for the area.

Finding the perfect home is never an easy task -- make things easier on yourself by approaching the process step-by-step. Methodically researching can assure that you will find a house that will fit you and your family for years to come.

James Kim writes for Austin Real Estate service Homecity.com. HomeCity combines powerful online Austin MLS search technology and other online tools with personalized real estate services to provide clients with the knowledge they need to make the right buying and selling decisions.


For your Tulsa real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com

For Tulsa moving and storage, contact Mike Ellingson of Relocation LLC at 918-459-6683 or www.relocationllc.net