Searching for a home can be overwhelming. It’s easy to feel swamped, especially when none of the potential homes meet your expectations. Is there another way? A modern trend is currently spreading in searching for the city before searching for the home. This makes a lot of sense. We spoke with experts about how to explore the neighborhood or city that suits you best before spending your money on your dream home.
How Do You Feel?
The idea of searching for the city is of great benefit since every city has its own feel, character, and characteristics, so before you start looking for a home, you should research the city! “Narrowing your options down to one to three locations you want to start searching in is crucial for a successful home search without feeling overwhelmed.”
Exploring the Neighborhood
If you really want to know how the neighborhood feels, take advantage of rental properties. “Spending some time in the areas you’re considering is the only way to ensure that each location could be a good fit. With short-term rentals available in almost every area now, one idea to consider is renting a house for a week/weekend in each city/area you’re thinking about. Get out and live life there,” and continued, “Is the area well-organized? How are the people? Are there restaurants and shops you like to shop at? Are there things you can do there and enjoy? Go check that out. Explore the neighborhoods you’re thinking about.”
Your Commute
Think about your journey from home to work (and back). Are you willing to sacrifice time for the perfect neighborhood? It’s important to know where you stand on this matter. “Since the pandemic, we’ve noticed that many buyers are not as interested in being close to work as they were in the past. Perhaps they realized that we can work from home which opened the door to other neighborhoods farther from their workplace,” says Kristen Tostado, a licensed real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles. “It’s become possible to drive to the office once or twice a week with a manageable commute. We have buyers willing to explore more neighborhoods now that they aren’t tied to commuting to work.”
Are Schools Important?
A great home means nothing if there aren’t good schools for your children. “When searching for the right town/neighborhood, schools (for those with children) are of utmost priority. In Los Angeles, neighborhoods with good public schools are treasures,” says Tostado. “Families will pay extra to get a home in a good public school area due to the high cost of sending a child to private school. They can then put the money saved from public education toward their monthly mortgage and come out ahead in the end.”
There’s a lot to consider, but if you play your cards right, you’ll end up with a home and city that suit you.
Source: https://www.realsimple.com/is-town-hunting-the-new-house-hunting-7566865
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