Are you about to pack up all your things and move into a new home in an entirely new neighborhood?
It’s always exciting to move to a new place, because it often feels like you’re making a fresh start to your life.
But before you load up the moving truck and start imagining you and your family’s new life, you naturally want to make sure that you’re making the right choice. After all, choosing to live somewhere new is never a decision that you’ll make lightly.
Knowing whether a new neighborhood will be a good place to live comes down to answering three questions. The answers to these questions will be what ultimately makes or breaks your move.
How Safe is the Neighborhood?
The very last thing you’ll ever want to do is to move to a place that makes you feel a little uneasy each time you step outside. Safety isn’t just about the house itself. It’s also about the overall vibe of the area, how the people seem to be (more on this in a little bit), and having peace-of-mind each day that your family, pets, and belongings are always kept safe.
The first thing you should do is to start researching the crime rates in the general idea. Don’t just rely on what people tell you; do your homework! A good place to start your research (besides looking up statistics or information on sites like Neighborhood Scout) will be to go to your local police department; they should have online crime maps that will show you clearly exactly where incidents have occurred over the past year or so. This will give you a very clear and visual picture of how safe the area is.
Besides general crime stats, you should also think about any other factors that exist with the neighborhood and how that could affect crime. For example, if you’re moving into a neighborhood that’s mostly residential but if there’s also a large business district nearby, your neighborhood could be more susceptible to crimes that are usually more common in business areas than residential (such as breaking into parked cars).
You might be thinking “but I don’t want to be paranoid about safety!” and you’re right, but simply lettering yourself being informed about crime in the area before you move in isn’t paranoia, it’s just being smart.
And don’t let falling crime rates make you adopt a mindset of “it will never happen to me” either. Homicide rates in the United States, including homicides involving a firearm, dropped by around 25% from 2022 to 2023, but that still doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t research what the levels are like in your area.
It's not about assuming the worst, but understanding the reality of the area you might be moving into.
Think of it like buying a car: you wouldn’t drive it without checking if it runs well, right? The same goes for the neighborhood. Do your due diligence and get the lay of the land before you move in.
How Convenient Is It?
Honestly, what’s the point of having the perfect house if everything you need is miles away? The convenience of your new neighborhood to grocery stores, coffee shops, banks, school, etc. can make or break your daily life. After all, when you’re always out there running errands, getting the kids to school, and juggling work you’ll naturally want everything to be close, right?
You don’t want to move into your new neighborhood only to see that the nearest grocery store is a half hour drive and the nearest gas station is in another zip code.
The solution? Again, it’s quite simple: research.
First, look at the essential places you’ll need to visit often. Think grocery stores, banks, gas stations, schools, healthcare facilities, and yes, even coffee shops for your morning latte. You’ll just want to make sure that each of these places are within a manageable driving distance from you.
But it’s not just about the basics. What about fun stuff? How many restaurants, gyms, and public parks are in or near your neighborhood as well? If you’re a foodie, being close to some great places to eat might make your life a lot better. And if you’re someone who likes to get outdoors, having a park or walking trails nearby would help make your life more fun too.
Do you want to know what the best way to get a sense of the convenience of an area is? Simple, just go drive and experience it! Rather than try to look up everything online, actually drive around the area and see for yourself where the grocery stores, doctors offices, coffee shops, and gyms are all. Then you’ll get a really good idea of what life in the area would be like for you.
What is the Community Like?
When you move to a new neighborhood, it’s not just about the house, the yard, the convenience of local stores, or even the view.
It’s also about the people.
It’s very important that you know that your neighborhood is a place where you’ll feel truly comfortable and welcome, and the only way you’re going to know that is if you actually go and drive or walk through the neighborhood itself before you actually buy the home or property.
Ideally you can get a feel for what the community is like before you move in as well. How do you figure this out?
You can start by looking at the types of people who live there. Is it a neighborhood mostly made up of families, or are you surrounded by young professionals or retirees? If you’ve got kids, you’ll probably want to look for a family-friendly environment with parks, a local library, or a family-friendly swimming pool nearby. If you’re more into a quieter and laid-back lifestyle, a neighborhood with fewer kids and more retirees might suit you better.
You get the idea.
But it’s not just about age groups. It’s also about the vibe. Take a walk around the block and see how people interact. Do you see people out talking together or anyone waving at you, or do you get a sense that everyone keeps to themselves? It won’t take long to get a feel for the vibe of the neighborhood, and remember, a friendly neighborhood can really make a huge difference in how you settle in.
Conclusion
It’s super easy to get caught up in the excitement of a fresh start, but taking the time to really consider the safety, convenience, and community around you in your new neighborhood will make all the difference in determining whether it’s a good fit or not.
Remember that any home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s also the local spots, the nearby streets, and the people who lie in the area too. Do your homework now so you can avoid any surprises later on!
