Choosing a home is about more than the house itself. Every neighborhood offers a unique sense of community, events, and amenities. Many factors should influence your decision to purchase a home. This blog contains neighborhood selection advice for Arlington MA property buyers.
Things to Evaluate
School Districts
Every neighborhood falls within a specific school district, and each can vary in ranking. Determine the school district boundaries prior to selecting a property. School rankings can typically be found on the Internet. You may also want to contact schools directly for more advanced information or to plan a visit.
Local Statistics
Real estate is all about location, location, location. Compare the home values in the specific neighborhood as it may vary from others and from the overall town. Average selling price, total properties sold, and average listing time can tell you how desirable a neighborhood is and how well homes there moves. A local real estate professional can pull these figures for you. Look at not only data for the current year but also for prior years.
Neighborhood Amenities
Take the time to tour a neighborhood prior to making an offer on a property. Note the local amenities such as recreational areas and shopping plazas. Visit at varying times of day to see traffic patterns. Review the maintenance of local homes. Look up local crime rates on the Internet and by calling the local police department. Communicate with neighbors as they generally know information not posted on public sources. All of this will help you get a better understanding of the area before making an investment in a home.
Covenants & Restrictions
Pull the deed and other documents for a property and look for any covenants, restrictions, and fees. If you have particular plans for the house, check for rules applicable to those plans. If in a subdivision with private roads or shared amenities, ask about recurring fees and how frequently they could change.
Future Changes
Research the general area and the particular neighborhood using public resources. This will reveal any recent news or public records. Look for any contested changes or other news that may affect the quality of life. Neighbors will also be a great resource for this.
More Neighborhood Selection Advice For Arlington MA Property Buyers
Buying a property is a important investment. Researching the items above will better educate you on that investment. Contact a local real estate broker for answers on different neighborhoods and for more neighborhood selection advice for Arlington MA property buyers. Using the services of a real estate agent may also make the home buying process less stressful. This information was compiled by Scott Strang at Scott Gregory Group
