First Home Basics: Choosing a Neighborhood

Choosing a Neighborhood

When selecting a neighborhood for your new home, ask yourself a few important questions:

Is it close to good schools?
Even if you don’t have children yourself, proximity to good schools is important should you ever decide to have children, or resell your home to a family that does.

TIP: Check the Texas Education Agency Web site to find listings of exemplary and recognized schools in your desired community.

Is it within a reasonable driving distance to my work?
Of course, different people have different tolerances for how much time they want to spend in their work commute. Some have no problem driving an hour or more each way, while others can’t tolerate a commute longer than 30 minutes.

TIP: Drive to and from the neighborhood you are considering and your place of employment during various points in the day. This will give you a good idea about how long your commute will be.

Is it someplace I want to live?
It sounds obvious, but many times homebuyers get so caught up in the selection of an individual home that they forget the bigger picture. Owning the most beautiful home in the world means little if it’s behind a sewage treatment plant or under the flight path of an airport.

Next Topic: Choosing A Floorplan