What comes first the home or the neighborhood?
If you are a buyer, Karen recommends you “mainly” choose the neighborhoods or areas you would want to live first. With so many amazing North Atlanta neighborhoods -areas and Lake Oconee neighborhoods, you can afford to look around and see which ones are located near where you want to live.
Proximity to a Preferred School District
Even if you don’t have kids, buying in a top-rated school district can still be a great financial decision. Check out Karen’s earlier blog post on buying in a great school district for more details.
Proximity to Your Place of Employment
We all know what a grind a lengthy commute can be and what a toll it takes on the person doing the commute day after day. Some of Karen’s clients put this at the top of their list for determining factors. However, it’s important to recognize that jobs change, and you may eventually work on the other side of metro Atlanta.
However, in both these top scenarios, LOCATION is a determining factor, and should more than likely be the “driver for your search”.
Neighborhoods Amenities
Swim, Tennis, Golf Course, Play Areas, Community Clubhouse, Pickleball Courts, are just a few of the amenities you may want or not want. Think about how often you will use them before deciding as they can add lots of costs to your monthly HOA fees.
Area Attributes
Finally parks and recreation, as well as shopping, dining, and fun things to do also play a role. Does the area have lots going on
Should You Look Outside Your Preferred Area?
This can be difficult if you fall in love with homes outside the area, and Karen’s advice is simply- don’t look. If you don’t look then you won’t fall into the trap. Stay focused on your radius and be confident that the home for you will appear.
Other Considerations
Make sure you fully understand the neighborhood association… the fees and costs. This can significantly add to your cost of living. However, also understand your HOA will have a hand in maintaining and enhancing the community’s value over time. Karen also recommends understanding your area’s property taxes in advance of your search.
For more information on evaluating a home to buy, see Karen’s earlier blog post on How to Assess a Home Quickly.
Finding Your Home
All these factors should play a role as you search for your new home. Remember, the location and the surrounding community are equally as important as the individual home when it comes to finding your perfect fit.
Karen has helped countless clients find their perfect fit. Give her a call today and get started with your search.
