How to Choose the Right Neighborhood in New Jersey

Location, location, location is more than just a real estate cliché. In fact, 78 percent of buyers who responded to a National Association of Realtor’s survey said that a home’s neighborhood is more important than the size of the house. Carefully evaluating neighborhoods before you make an offer on a house can help you avoid disappointment. These five tips will help you choose the perfect location for you and your family.

1. Don’t Underestimate the Convenience Factor

Buying a new home is lot like starting a romantic relationship. In the beginning, you’re more willing to overlook the little things that can become major annoyances as time goes by. While a long commute may seem like a minor issue initially, spending a few hours in the car every day can make your dream home’s location less than ideal sooner than you might think.

When you consider a neighborhood, consider its proximity to schools, medical offices, restaurants, stores, major highways and public transportation. Visit the neighborhood during the week and the weekend to see if traffic jams are a regular problem.

2. Think About Space

How much space do you and your family need and how do you plan to spend your time? If you spend most of your time indoors, a large home with a small backyard might not a problem, particularly if you don’t enjoy yard work. However, if you’re already planning the gatherings you’ll have in your new backyard and the garden you’ll plant, you may not be happy if you choose a neighborhood with postage stamp-size backyards.

3. Check Out Neighborhood Amenities

Buyers often choose a particular neighborhood based on the amenities. Community pools, gardening clubs, walking trails and neighborhood block parties can be deciding factors when selecting a new home. If you enjoy getting to know your neighbors, you’ll want to look for friendly, inclusive neighborhoods with plenty of planned and unplanned activities.

4. Go for a Walk

Driving through neighborhood streets on the way to tour a home isn’t the best way to determine if a community is truly the best one of you. Taking a walk through the neighborhood can give you a much better sense if you would truly feel at home there. Hopefully, you’ll meet a few residents on your walk who can give you a sense of what it’s like to live in the area. If you can, visit a community event, such as a July 4^th celebration or community walk/run, to determine the neighborhood is the right choice for you.

As you walk, take a look at the houses, the sidewalk and the streets. Are the lawns neatly manicured, the sidewalks crack free and the homes in good repair? Good neighbors take care of their homes and don’t let them fall into disrepair.

5. Research the Schools

The quality of community schools plays an important part in a neighborhood’s reputation. Even if you don’t plan to have children, or your children are grown, you’ll want to check information about the local school system. Since school ratings affect resale value, you’ll be glad you bought in an area with good schools if you ever decide to sell your home.

What to Look for in New Home Communities

It can be a little harder to evaluate new home communities, but you can decide if a community is a good fit by considering these factors, in addition to the ones mentioned above:

Builder Reputation and Construction Quality: Reputable builders construct homes with quality materials that will stand the test of time. If the builder has a less-than-stellar reputation, homes may begin to show wear in just a few years, which will affect the neighborhood’s reputation.

Landscaping Packages: Does the community look as if it was constructed in the middle of the Sahara Desert? Landscaping packages that not only include sod but ample trees and shrubberies improve the neighborhood’s appearance and help it appear welcoming.

Rules and Regulations: Ask to see the homeowner’s association’s rules and regulations before you decide to move into a new community. Rules help protect the character of the neighborhood and your home’s value, but some communities go a little too far when they establish community-wide regulations.

Are you ready to make a move? Why not consider a brand new home in Central New Jersey? Country Classics, the area’s premier home builder, offers award-winning homes with gourmet kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, and plenty of living space. Contact us today to schedule your tour of one of our vibrant homes and neighborhoods.