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A new family home needs to serve a lot of different purposes. In addition to making sure that your HVAC is in good shape and that the roof is tight, your new home will need to serve as the main hub for family activities, school attendance, getting to work and other critical necessities in your daily schedule.
Nearby Parks and Amenities
Using your potential new home as the middle of the wheel, review maps of the region for; parks, libraries, museums, pools, faith facilities, zoos, etc. Having parks nearby means that, even if your yard is quite small, you and your children can still get out and play. A nearby park can also be a wonderful place to gather for a picnic. Having museums and zoos within an easy drive means you can take advantage of family passes and free days. Those who enjoy church or temple services as a family will appreciate having their chosen faith structure nearby. Many of these facilities also offer daycare options and other child-friendly scheduled activities, as well as offering plenty of community connections.
Local Schools
When reviewing New Orleans homes for sale, make sure that your neighborhood school will serve your children well. Each child and each school is unique, but schools with a high rating offer more options for children of all capacities. Additionally, carefully consider whether or not you want your children to be able to walk to school. While this proximity can be handy for busy parents, make sure that your neighborhood has quality sidewalks and effective traffic markings. Just because the speed limit is slow doesn’t mean that drivers will be careful. However, easily traveled sidewalks and good training can help your child travel safely to and from school.
Shopping Options
Travel from your home to your job and back again can be extremely convenient if you can find quality shopping options along the way. If you prefer to shop online and get your products delivered, make sure your porch has a spot to stash packages to avoid theft.
Community Good
Take a look in your intended community for group events. Does your new city have a community yard sale? If you like to declutter on a regular basis, being part of a community of other thrifty folks can make yard sale season a wonderful treat. With this idea in mind, take a look at other aspects in your intended community. Are the houses in your potential neighborhood well cared for? If you’re trying to avoid buying in a neighborhood with a lot of rental properties, consider checking out your county real estate property tax listings. If you can pull up a range of properties and the majority are owned by a name, chances are pretty good that the owner is the occupant. If properties are owned by an LLC or an “Inc.”, they’re likely investment properties.
Tourist Temptations
If you live in an area that is quite popular with tourists, keep an eye on your intended travel routes. For example, can you easily route your drive to work or school to lower, slower routes during intense travel times? Will your employer give you the chance to change up your hours so you can be on the road before or after the intense rush times?
Living in a touristy area can make it much easier to host family and friends. This style of living can also add to your property value because your city is a well-known destination. However, if your intended neighborhood gets clogged with cars during the big tourist seasons, you will want to buy a house with a garage and may want to work out a schedule that allows you to work from home for part of the year.
Conclusion
When your children are small, you need a home that is low-maintenance and offers plenty of security. As your children get older, you may need more space or be able to make cosmetic upgrades. Start simple and make the choice to live with the space immediately available so you can make changes when you know what works and what doesn’t.
