International Access: If you need access
to the airport, how far is the drive?
What is the cost to hire a taxi? Is public
transportation an option?
4. Schools
The sign of a good neighborhood is a well-
kept school. And if you have children, this
is probably the first consideration when
looking for a good neighborhood. Starting
with a web-site
search such as Great
Schools
which gives
public school ratings
and allows you to
view comments from
parents (very helpful).
This site will also
break down the demographics of the school
children as well as the education level
averages of the teachers.
Another factor to consider is how your
child will get to school. Is there public
transportation? Can they walk? Is it safe?
How far is it to drive?
Documents (frequently) require for
school enrollment
10 Ways To Help Your Child Adjust To A
New School
5. Property
Values and
Taxes
Current Value: Research
what houses in the
neighborhood are currently valued at
then ask a real estate agent how that
compares with the average value five
and ten years earlier. How much has the
property increased? Has the neighborhood
changed? Is the real estate agent aware
of any future developments? Real estate
agents who have been in business for
a while, servicing a particular area are a
wealth of information. Lean on them.
Future Development Information can
be found at city hall or through the
local Chamber of Commerce.
Future developments change a
neighborhood, increase taxes and
increase traffic. It's a good idea to
investigate the future potential
of the neighborhood then decide
if that outlook will be suitable to
you and your family. Again a well
informed real estate agent can
play an important role in these kinds of
conversations.
Property Taxes Find out from the real
estate agent or the city what the current
tax rate is and how much it has increased
in the last five years. Is there another
expected increase? How much might you
pay in five years? Build this amount into
your yearly housing budget.
The reality of choosing a new place to live
encompasses an incredibly large series of
factors, all competing for your attention. In
order to be successful in your search, you
must determine what is most important to
you and your family, do your homework,
and then continue to be vigilant in your
search until you find the right place to
live. By asking the right questions and
considering all of your options, you can find
the perfect neighborhood suited to you.
