London Ontario Real Estate

Even if you think you have found your dream home, the neighborhood should be examined just as closely as the home itself. Neighboring houses and business will have a huge affect on your lifestyle. Is the area increasing in homes pricing or decreasing? Are there good places to eat and play nearby? There exist numerous useful tools and apps to help with this but it is important to approach your research in a organized and hands on method.

Here are six steps to aid in researching a neighborhood.

1. Clearly identify what you want from a neighborhood. Take some time identifying the things that make a home and a neighborhood desirable to you. Know what you want and don't allow your desires to drowned out by a surplus of information. Despise homeowners associations? Enjoy the security of a gated community? Enjoy the prestige of an older home compared to a new model?
   
2. Make an additional list of the things you need nearby, both within walking distance and within reasonable driving distance. How far are you willing to go to get to school, sports facilities and parks, grocery shopping, and retail centers? Would you feel bereft if you lived far away from a particular type of restaurants or a convenient coffee shop?
3. Investigate the reputation of nearby schools. If there’s a easy way to identifying a good neighborhood, it’s a neighborhood with prestigious schools. Even if you don’t have kids, good schools are indicators of good neighborhoods. toRealtor.com says homes in good school districts typically hold their value better than those in less highly regarded districts, and a 2013 Redfin real estate company survey showed Americans pay $50 per square foot more for homes in neighborhoods with top-ranked schools.
   
4. Consider transportation  methods. Do you have easy access to a car, and how much driving are you willing to do? Are you willing to sacrifice the distance you drive to gain other home and neighborhood bonuses?  Is public transportation nearby for your family's convenience? Are the activities and resources you frequent during a normal week nearby?
5. Neighborhood search apps or websites can help narrow the field. Rating and search tools work best for neighborhoods in urban areas with lots of reviews, but you never know when you’ll find a thumbs-up or thumbs-down that flags something that’s important to you. TryNeighborhood Scout, Street Advisor, and Neighborhoods.
6. View neighborhoods at multiple times of day and different days. Whether you’re looking for an active, neighborly area or a peaceful refuge, the only way to be sure what an area is like is to do some sleuthing in person. Try to visit with a few of the residents, if anyone is out and about, and ask what they like and dislike about the neighborhood. Check or ask about problems like barking dogs and late-night noise.