A Guide to Selecting a New Community

People are on the move today. Most Americans make several moves during their lifetime. When moving to a new town or city, it is difficult to make a decision about which community suits you personally or your family. Community neighborhoods might vary considerably from one area to the next. When you buy a home in that neighborhood, you are becoming a part of the community social economic structure. If the community is on the rise, so is the cost of the homes in the area. When the eco structure in the community is declining, this certainly strongly affects the price of the homes in the surrounding area. Take this all into consideration while on the search for a new community. Here are the five top things to consider before purchasing a home in a new community.

Check Out the Neighborhood - Don't just take the Realtor, friend, or family members word about the community. And don't base your idea about the community on what you read in brochures, magazines, or even on the Internet. Get in your car and drive to the neighborhood. Pick different times to drive around the neighborhood to get a real feel of what the neighborhood and people are really like. For example, drive around during the morning, afternoon, and evenings. And don't forget to take a quick drive through on the weekends when most of the residents are at home.

Crime Rate - You certainly don't want to move into a community with a high crime rate. Take a drive around the community. Check for vandalism and graffiti. Look for strange activity. Check online for crime statistics concerning the community.

Location - Think about how long it takes to commute to work daily from that location. The house might be a bargain price because of the location, but if the commute takes a very long time, it might cost more in the end. Find out how far you have to drive to shop or visit the shopping mall. Those with children should check out the school districts rating. These are the schools that the children are going to attend and receive their primary education in for several years.

Local Property Values and Taxes - Find out what houses in the community sold for in the last year. Determine if the housing prices are on the rise or decreasing in the last ten years. Find out about the property taxes and how much they have increased over the last ten years or so.

Utility Cost - Often a new home buyer can transfer their cable and Internet to the new location for the same price. Ask the local utility company or home owner for a written report concerning monthly utility cost for the last year. Calculate this into your housing budget.

Use the information included here as a quick guide to selecting a new community that is right for you and your family.