There is much more to buying a home than choosing the right features. The location of your new home is just as important, as it’s where you’ll be choosing to spend most of your time. It may be difficult to pick the right area or neighborhood when home searching, but there are some key things to search for. Here are some of the most important considerations to keep in mind when finding a new home location:
Proximity to Services & Commerce
If you want to be close to the action—and essential services like grocery—factor the distance from your potential home into your decision. Is a car required to get to amenities and services or are there places you can walk or bike to? Is there public transportation between your home and commerce centers? These are solid questions to ask when evaluating a potential new home location.
Many homeowners prioritize proximity to recreation, dining, grocery and shopping in their decisions, but the opposite may also be true. Maybe you want to be far away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and being next to a major shopping center is unappealing. Regardless of your preference, this is an important factor to consider.
School Districts
If you have children in your household or are planning to have them in the future, you should also consider school information in your decision. Research what school districts are in your potential new home’s area and whether it’s possible to transfer between them if desired. Most home seekers prioritize access to the best possible opportunities for education. This can include pre-schools, elementary schools, middle and high schools. It may also include community colleges for adult education opportunities. Keep school information in mind when deciding on your next home’s location.
There is a lot that goes in to evaluating a new living location. These are just two major things to look for and keep in mind during your search. The more you can find out about an area, the more confident you’ll be in your decision.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
