First, Find the Perfect Neighborhood that Fits Your Lifestyle
Buyers, anxious to make a quick home selection, often fail to take into consideration whether their new Charlotte home will work for their lifestyle. Is it in a location within a reasonable commute to the office? Is it near recreational areas that you will be utilizing regularly? Is it near the airport If golfing is your favorite pastime, is there a public course near the home which you're considering?
Selecting the neighborhood FIRST is the wise way to shop homes for sale in Charlotte NC. Find the Charlotte neighborhood that is near the necessities for YOUR lifestyle first, then focus on the home.
1. Make a list of all of the amenities that are nearby. Keep in mind the distances and routes to each of these places, being certain that they are acceptable to you or not.
2. What features and local amenities are of importance to you? This is especially helpful if you are choosing between a few different neighborhoods in more than one area.
- Looking for parks and recreation? Are there parks nearby?
- Is the community visually appealing?
- Prefer a private lot? Are there quiet sections, streets, culs de sac?
- Meet the neighbors! Are the people friendly in the neighborhood?
- Is the neighborhood clean? Yards, streets, parks, amenities?
- Are there mature trees and landscaping?
- Is lot size important to you? Do the lots have large or small yards?
- Are there sidewalks?
- Is the neighborhood a 'safe' one? **
- What are the market values of the homes in the area?
- How many homes are for sale in the community?
- How old is the community?
- What is the average age of the residents? **
- Just what are the demographics? **
- What is the proximity to schools, both public and private?
- Are there active community events or organizations?
**Demographics include protected classes of individuals which we, as Realtors® are prohibited from discussing with clients. There are multiple websites which can help you answer these questions on your own such as www.ZipSkinny.com and in Charlotte, www.CharMeck.org.
3. Drive around and walk through the neighborhood. The best way to determine the cleanliness and friendliness of the neighborhood is simply to walk around it and meet the residents.
Even if you are not searching for 'lifestyle' in your new home search, taking lifestyle into consideration is going to help you avoid landing in a community which does not suit your tastes. My recommendation: Definitely discover the neighborhood possibilities first--then your home search will be much simpler for you!
Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate
Debe Maxwell, CRS, Realtor®/Broker
SAVVY + COMPANY REAL ESTATE
1920 E. 7th Street
Charlotte, NC 28204
Mobile: (704) 491-3310
Fax: (704) 353-7014
Originally posted at www.iCharlotteRealEstate.com
(THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)
Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310
Boy is this a timely post. I have been trying to make this point to one of my buyers and when folks take lifestyle into consideration, then the rest falls into place.
Debe ... Great outline for buyers to follow !! Thanks
Debe
Thanks for sharing the tips they are right on target.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Good practical tips that can be modeled and re-used anywhere there's a home listed.
Joan: SO true--find out what they do, where they work, what types of activities they like to be involved in and you can pretty much pinpoint the communities within minutes! Like you said, the rest just falls into place!
Robert: Thanks!
Lou: Thanks--it does work!
Thanks, Anita--and yes, this applies to every locale!
I also tell my buyers to drive and/or walk the neighborhoods. Thanks for the post as it is excellent advice.
Neighborhood, schools and location first, and then the house. You can be happy in a yurt if it's in the right place and miserable in a mansion if it's not where you want to be.
OK, Debe. What's your secret to finding buyers who want to make a fast decision? That's a blog post itself!
Debe - Great Post! I think walking the neighborhood is one of the best things, buyers will learn real quick how friendly the neighbors are.
Debe, this is great advice for anyone starting their home search. Get to know the neighborhood before you commit to the home. Is everything you need to satisfy your lifestyle nearby?
Hi Debe, This a marvelous post and loaded with all the right information. Thank you for the great links. I have added them to my links bar as reminder to use them. Thank you again.. Hope life is treating you wonderful. Happy Mothers Day BTW.
Great lilfestyle post, Debe. These are all points to be considered before deciding where exactly you want to live.