Moving to a new neighborhood can be an exciting experience for many individuals and their families. While moving to a new neighborhood can be a stressful experience, there are several steps you can follow to streamline the experience. The following guide provides simple tips and tricks on how to minimize issues when moving to a new neighborhood. Researching Property Values and Rental Rates When moving to a new neighborhood, it’s a good idea to research property values very thoroughly. If there are a lot of homes for sale in a neighborhood at a low price, that could indicate there’s a problem with the neighborhood that isn’t being disclosed on a real estate listing. This could include high noise levels from a nearby industrial area, groundwater pollution, poor air quality, and more. By conducting research beforehand, you’ll know if a deal on a home is too good to be true. It’s also a good idea to research the percentage of rental units in a neighborhood. As a rule of thumb, renters are less likely to care about a neighborhood compared to homeowners. Studies have shown that communities with a high level of rental units often have higher levels of crime.

Researching Crime

There are a variety of ways to research crime levels in a community. One of the best ways is through the use of crime heat maps. Crime heat maps show the intensity of criminal activity for a certain neighborhood. If you see a hotspot within five miles of your prospective home, it may be a good idea to look elsewhere. It’s also a good idea to make sure that a home isn’t next to a low-income housing complex. In some cases, crime from a low-income housing complex can spill over into neighboring communities. Homeowner Associations Homeowner associations (HOAs) are a community of homes that have strict rules. They are usually governed by an elected board of homeowners from that neighborhood. HOAs are a great way to keep property values up and ensure that all homes in a neighborhood conform to a certain look. If you like to do your own thing a lot of the time, HOAs are not for you.

Property Taxes and Amenities

It’s important to understand the difference between city and rural taxes. If you live within the city limits, your property taxes will be significantly higher. However, you’ll also have access to city amenities, such as municipal water, garbage collection, road maintenance, and more. Choosing where to live is a big life decision. You want to make sure your new home is a place where you can see yourself living for years to come. Do plenty of research and even recruit the help of an agent that helps buy or sell real estate. They will know what your priories should be in a new home and neighborhood.   Article submitted by Emma Sturgis, Freelance Writer