If you are a family looking to buy a new home, what kinds of things should you consider in terms of location? Some of the things you should keep in mind are no-brainers, but other things, maybe not so much.
Safety
This is one that I’d put in the no-brainer category, safety. Making sure you are moving into a safe location kind of goes without saying. However, it’s not just your neighborhood you want to check on, it’s the surrounding areas. Some very nice places can be in the heart of crime. It’s unfortunate, but it’s just the way it is. You might not even know until you take a drive through the areas at night or do a little research on crime locations in the city.
Developments
Know the future of your location that you are moving into. Where you are moving might me a great place, but are their plans for rezoning? Will you have adult entertainment clubs right down the street from you and your kids within a year? Will you have a small airport built right behind your backyard. Don’t let tunnel vision set in on your potential nice new home. Do your homework. Heck, you may be surprised to find that there is a rezoning that will increase your property value within just a few years.
Schools
This one is extremely important and one that I think most families are aware of. Know the schools that are close to your home. Are they safe? Do you prefer private schools for your kids? Are any close by?
Evacuation
If you live in Florida like I do, then this one can be very important, evacuation routes. Hurricanes are pretty common here, and we’ve had some bad ones since I’ve lived here. So where you live can impact the time it takes for you and your family to get out of the city and to safety. You do not want to end up in a place where it takes you and your children sitting in hours of traffic to get out of the city. Make sure you live close to your city or state’s evacuation route. Trust me on this one. I’m speaking from personal experience.
Hospitals
If anyone in your family has medical issues or if you have small children, you might want to live close to a hospital or emergency center. Living relatively close to a hospital or emergency room can provide you with peace of mind should the unexpected nightmare occur.
In short, do your homework, protect yourself and protect your future-your family.