Unless you already live in your desired neighborhood—lucky you—you will need to do some due diligence to pick the right area(s) for your home search. Even if you live in the same area, subsections of a neighborhood could be very different from one another. 

This neighborhood guide will provide helpful tips to assist you on your journey. I’ve even provided a handy checklist to help you along the way.

As you know, picking a neighborhood is only one aspect of the homebuying process. Check out my other post for useful tips first time homebuyers need to succeed and avoid these 5 mistakes. For best results, follow this guide after budgeting for your new home. 

Do Your Homework

There’s a ton of online research you should consider to identify the best neighborhoods for you. 

Every city has many neighborhoods to choose from. Even if you’ve lived in the town for a while, you likely don’t know what each one offers. You must identify the pros and cons of the neighborhood for your lifestyle and priorities.

I’ve created this checklist of searches you should do to help narrow the list for your next neighborhood: 

1. Go to Redfin.com and search the neighborhood for your desired home type. You want to ensure that there is generally available inventory.
2. While on Redfin, enter your bedroom and bathroom requirements. Check that there are matches within your price range. 
3. Go to Google Maps and determine the estimated time it will take you to get from the neighborhood to your work. Also, do this in reverse, entering the times you commute.
4. While there, look at the neighborhood in satellite view to identify any clearly visible benefits or nuisances (e.g., railroad tracks, restaurants and shopping, loud highways, etc.). 
5. If you have or might have kids, check out GreatSchools.org. Keep in mind that better schools mean higher home values.
6. Identify neighborhood safety and crime scores with AreaVibes.com. You can also track current crime data with MyLocalCrime.com.

Keep this information organized so you can compare different neighborhoods. You want to narrow your list down to 3 to 5 neighborhoods.

Put Feet on the Street

You never know what you’ll learn when you visit a neighborhood in person. It’s time to go on a few field trips!

So many aspects of a neighborhood won’t show up in crime statistics or school ratings. There is an emotional and intuitive investigation you must do in person.  

Don’t worry. I’ve provided you with another checklist to help you in the search:

1. Drive or walk through the neighborhood to identify any amenities or drawbacks.
2. Experience the quality and comfort of living there by visiting local grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, bars, or anywhere else you would likely patronize.
3. Walk into the housing communities where you’ve seen houses available. Be sure to note how neighbors keep their homes, whether kids play outside, whether you feel safe, etc.
4. Be a tourist and stay a few days overnight. Visit local attractions, parks, community events, historical landmarks, and more. See how it would feel to live there. 
5. You want to bump into locals while they’re out so you can talk and get information about the neighborhood. 
6. Experiment by commuting to work from the neighborhood to see how long it takes.

Choose and Update Your Search Criteria

You’ve done your homework, gone on a few field trips, and compiled all your research. Now you’re ready to decide on a neighborhood.

You may decide on one or several neighborhoods that suit you. The important thing is to choose and move on. 

Doing this work is only half the battle. The homebuying process can’t move forward unless you decide. Be sure to communicate that decision with your homebuying team.

I hope these 12 checklist items provided you with a useful framework for deciding on a neighborhood. I know this decision will serve you for many years in your new home.