23 April 2014

Checking Out a New Neighborhood

When looking at Bluffton real estate, one of the things that you want to do is simply to check out the neighborhood along with the home. You never want to buy a house without first deciding if it is in an area where you would like to live. Even if it seems like a good deal, you will be unhappy there if you do not like the area, and you could end up having to look for a new house far more quickly than you would have liked. Here are a few key things to think about when looking at the neighborhood as a whole:

1. Are there any parks?
Having parks and green space can be very nice, especially if you think that you are going to be buying a rather small lot. The closer you can get to a park, the more that area feels like it is yours. This is especially nice if you have children. There may not be much room in the yard for them to run and play, but you will barely notice if there is a park across the street.

2. What are the crime rates like?
It is also worth looking at the crime rates to make sure that the area has a low amount of crime. You want to feel safe in your own home. The chart should tell you about all sorts of things, such as the amount of specific types of crime and where those things occurred. Knowing that you found a great home with very little nearby crime can give you peace of mind.


3. How walkable is the area?
Another thing to check out is how close things are to your home. Are you going to have to drive every time you want to go somewhere, or are there different things - like a public library or a breakfast restaurant - that you can walk to with ease?

4. How good are the schools?
Remember to look at the quality of the schools even if you do not have any children of your own. You never know if you may have them in the future, and having good local schools saves you a lot of trouble. If you are really dedicated to finding the best schools for your children, living in the area that has those schools before the children are born can save you from having to move again.