Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood

Savannah Buyers often express the opinion that finding the “perfect neighborhood” is more important than finding the “perfect house.”  After all, homes can be updated over time and be made to accommodate any needs the Buyer might have.  I agree.  The neighborhood chosen has a huge impact on lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.  In addition, Buyers want to live where there are individuals and families who have similar interests and would make good friends.

There are some simple points of evaluation a Buyer can address to assure that he/she narrows down the neighborhood options.

1. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, sports, church—engaged in regularly and/or stores visited frequently. The first test is whether the neighborhood options would require too much travel time to maintain those activities. Certainly, Savannah is not so large that a person couldn’t get just about anywhere within 30 minutes.  However, our society is a convenience-oriented one.  Too much time in the car will become burdensome.
2. Check out the school district.  Even if a Buyer is single or without children, this is still an important element of the neighborhood search.  Buying a home is a significant investment.  Unless a Buyer is planning to stay put in a “forever” home, future resale potential has to be part of the equation.  Realtors are prohibited from advertising that a home is in a “great school district.”  However, there are several websites that can provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. These include:  http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/CRCT-Statewide-Scores.aspx (where you can download school-specific test scores; and http://www.greatschools.org/search/search.page?search_type=0&q=Savannah&state=GA. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods under consideration.
3. Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area? Again, this is a topic that Realtors are prohibited from discussing.  However, the information is readily available at: http://www.savannahga.gov/index.aspx?NID=1245.  This site lets you see summaries as well as interactive crime maps for specific neighborhoods or residential blocks anywhere in Chatham County.
4. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months? This is definitely a characteristic for which a Realtor can provide both data and insight.
5. See if you’ll make money. A Realtor can provide information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment a home or neighborhood will be.   Likewise, the local planning agency also may be able to outline planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or highway—that might affect value.
6. See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed the focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. I always recommend checking out a neighborhood at different times of day as well as on the weekend.  Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?

There are so many ways to take the anxiety out of the home buying process.  if you have questions about these steps or any others related to buying or selling, don’t hesitate to call me at 912-667-6533!