What to Look for in the “Right” Neighborhood

When you’re ready to move into a new home or if you’re relocating to Santa Fe from out of state, it can often be hard to figure out where is the best place to live. Sure, if you already live in the area, you’re going to know what schools and activities that you want to live by in order to disrupt your family’s lives as little as possible. But if you’re in need of a new home that is in an area completely new to you, then you might need a little help figuring out what is going to be the ultimate neighborhood for you. When you’re on your property search in Santa Fe, turn to the real estate experts at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Schedule your consultation today, but in the meantime, start thinking about the different aspects that may make a neighborhood just right for you.

School Districts

If you have children or plan to have children while living in your new home, you know how important it can be to choose a house in the right school district. In fact, if your children are already in school, you’ll more likely than not want to opt for a neighborhood that is already within their school boundaries and near their current friends. If you’re opting to move away from current schools, then you’re going to want to take a close look at what neighborhoods fall in what school districts in order to make sure your children are attending a school that will be a good fit for them. If you don’t already have a neighborhood in mind, take the time to look at the school districts that perform the best and narrow the search to those areas.

Crime Rates

No matter who you are, you probably want to find a home in a safe neighborhood. There are plenty of online tools and public information available to help you figure out what areas and neighborhoods are going to be the safest options. Cruising through all the data can seem like a monumental task, but the easiest way to look at it is to look for areas with overall good crime rate averages. Once you’ve narrowed your property search down to a couple of areas, you can dig into the nitty-gritty and see what types of crime make up the averages. In some areas, you may have low crime with many little incidents or perhaps there is one big incident that increase the crime rate in a neighborhood. Thinking critically about these statistics can help you make an informed decision when you buy a home.

Local Amenities

Looking at the local amenities around a neighborhood can also be a big determinate on how you choose between one neighborhood or another. Ask yourself, is there a grocery store nearby that you would shop at? Can you easily get your favorite coffee beverage? Are there good activities for your kids to participate in? If these amenities aren’t easily accessible to your new home, you may find yourself unhappy with your decision.

Housing Style

While you may love a certain area around Santa Fe for many of the aforementioned reasons, if you don’t like the housing styles present in the neighborhood that you’re interested, you’re not going to be happy with your buying decision. You have to find a home that is first and foremost right for you. If you had your heart set on a two-story home and you need five bedrooms, don’t settle for a smaller ranch home just because it’s right next to your kid’s day care. You’re sure to be able to find just the right home within a reasonable distance from your kid’s day care with the help of a knowledgeable professional.

The Locals

When you’re searching for the right neighborhood for you, you want to get a sense of what type of neighbors you might end up with. Perhaps you found a house near the Santa Fe Institute of Art and Design. While it might be a great house, you may have to ask yourself if you’re okay with having college students as neighbors. Take some time to drive through the area during the day and during the evening hours a couple of times a week in order to get a sense of the neighborhood, the noise levels, and the regular activity.

When you’re ready to find your perfect home and neighborhood, turn to the professionals at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Santa Fe today!