Know your Neighborhood

If you are in the market for a new house, you would probably have an idea of what you are looking for. While the house itself is your prime concern, the neighborhood you choose will have a huge bearing on your living experience. Hence, before you start looking for a house, you should choose a neighborhood which suits your lifestyle and meets your requirements.

Budget

Your budget comes first. Set down your financial limits and work out the amount of money you are willing to spend. Once you have an idea of your finances, you can shortlist the neighborhoods which fall within your range and cross out those which you cannot afford.

List the non-negotiables

Every buyer has a few requirements which he/she does not intend to compromise on. Make a list of all such requirements or conditions you have in regards to your new home. For instance, you might want it to be a corner plot, or might require that it has a swimming pool – list all these conditions before you go house-hunting and short-list suitable neighborhoods.

Housing requirements

You should list down all the housing requirements in order to shortlist suitable properties easily. You should be clear about the structure of the property you want to buy. The structure includes the number of floors, bedrooms, washrooms, kitchens and halls.

Lifestyle needs

You need to keep your lifestyle requirements in consideration before you choose a neighborhood and a property in it. If you and your partner work, you might want to be located close to public transportation facilities. Likewise, if you have children, you might need access to a day care centre. Schools, colleges, restaurants and hangout places should be considered before you make any decisions.

What makes a neighborhood special for you?

Finally, you might want to make a list of the things you are looking for in a neighborhood. Do you want a newly built locality where initial prices are low? Are you looking for a more settled neighborhood with a little history? Do you prefer quiet streets or busy walkways? Do you want to be located near recreational facilities or commercial outlets? Answer all these questions and keep them in mind before you choose a neighborhood to live in.

The best way to find out about a neighborhood is actually spending some time there. You can get up early and drive around the neighborhood to get an idea of how the locals live. Eating and shopping at local outlets is also a good way to find out about a neighborhood.