How to Evaluate Your New Home's Location

There is much more to buying a home than choosing the right features. The location of your new home is just as important, as it’s where you’ll be choosing to spend most of your time. It may be difficult to pick the right area or neighborhood when home searching, but there are some key things to search for. Here are some of the most important considerations to keep in mind when finding a new home location:

Proximity to Services & Commerce

If you want to be close to the action—and essential services like grocery—factor the distance from your potential home into your decision. Is a car required to get to amenities and services or are there places you can walk or bike to? Is there public transportation between your home and commerce centers? These are solid questions to ask when evaluating a potential new home location.

Many homeowners prioritize proximity to recreation, dining, grocery and shopping in their decisions, but the opposite may also be true. Maybe you want to be far away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and being next to a major shopping center is unappealing. Regardless of your preference, this is an important factor to consider.

School Districts

If you have children in your household or are planning to have them in the future, you should also consider school information in your decision. Research what school districts are in your potential new home’s area and whether it’s possible to transfer between them if desired. Most home seekers prioritize access to the best possible opportunities for education. This can include pre-schools, elementary schools, middle and high schools. It may also include community colleges for adult education opportunities. Keep school information in mind when deciding on your next home’s location.

There is a lot that goes in to evaluating a new living location. These are just two major things to look for and keep in mind during your search. The more you can find out about an area, the more confident you’ll be in your decision.