A huge part of buying a home is finding the best location for you, which means you’ll need to choose a neighborhood. But how do you decide which neighborhood is the right one?
You need to go neighborhood dating!
For many years now, we’ve emphasized the importance of “trying on” a neighborhood you might want to live in. Many of our clients begin their home searches with their heart set on a particular neighborhood, only to discover along the way that they end up falling in love with a totally different neighborhood!
The more neighborhoods you tour, the more confident you’ll become in choosing the right one for you. In turn, this process will inform your decision on which house to buy. Buying a house is so much more than the house itself—it’s about the entire lifestyle that a neighborhood affords.
How do you go about “dating” a neighborhood? Here are our tips for neighborhood dating:
Stroll through the neighborhood. Are there sidewalks? Is it pedestrian friendly? Is it a great environment for walking your dog? These things may or may not be important to you, but getting out of your car and exploring a neighborhood can help you observe the overall vibe.
Pop into a few coffee shops. Coffee culture is a big deal in the Seattle area, but whether or not you’re a coffee drinker, visiting popular cafes can help you better understand a neighborhood. Is this a place where students come to study? Is it a place where people grab coffee on their way to work? Is there a lively social atmosphere, or is it a quiet place where people go to focus?
Check out the local grocery stores. This is a huge deal for many people! For some, having a neighborhood grocery store that’s walkable from home is essential. Others may prefer to drive to a bigger store, so parking is important.
Visit a farmers market. This is a great way to check out who your new neighbors might be! Are there lots of families, or does it seem like a younger crowd out with their dogs?
What will your commute be like? It’s one thing to estimate your commute using Google Maps. But it’s an entirely different thing to actually test out the commute in real time. How crowded is the bus or Link light rail at the time you’d usually use it? What is it like to drive on I-5 at 4:30pm? What looks like a 10-minute commute in Seattle can sometimes turn into a 30-minute commute during rush hour. Some people don’t mind the freeway crawl while others would prefer to take back roads. Whatever style of transportation you prefer, you should make sure your commute works for you.
Think about your current lifestyle. What do you like about it? What do you wish you could do differently? Here are a few more lifestyle components that might be important to consider:
- Parks/Dog Parks
- Gyms/fitness opportunities
- Proximity to Airport
- Greenery/views
- Schools
- Bars/Restaurants
- Salon
- Medical/Veterinary facilities
If you’re out and exploring a neighborhood, you can always reach out to us for tips on what to check out!