Deciding to move and buying a house can be a stressful yet exciting process. One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when beginning your home search is where you will live. After you decide on the location of your new home, it’s time to pick your new neighborhood. Picking your new neighborhood can be tough, especially if you have a family. It’s important choose the safest and most practical neighborhood with something for everyone.
Neighborhood Safety
The first and most important thing to consider when choosing your next neighborhood is the overall safety of the area.
How Walkable Is the Neighborhood?
To find the “Scores” section, go to any property listing details page and scroll past the “Transit” section. Once you get to the “Scores” section, you will see the Walk Score. The Walk Score tells you the walkability of the address and gives you a score out of 100. According to Walkscore.com, a score from 0-20 and 25-49 means Car-Dependent, 50-69 means Somewhat Walkable, 70-89 means Very Walkable, and 90-100 means Walker’s Paradise. Even though a Walk Score below 59 seems low, if the score is between 25-49, your family may still be able to walk around the neighborhood, but you won’t be able to run errands on foot. If you want an area that’s more friendly to walkers, try to find a home in an area that has a walk score above 50.
How Loud Is It?
To learn about how loud your neighborhood will be, check the Sound Score. Below the Walk Score, you will see the Sound Score. The Sound Score tells you about the outside noise level at the address. The scale for the Sound Score is from 0 to 100. Zero is very loud, and 100 is very quiet. Getting a good night’s rest, no matter who you are, is important, so if you are concerned about the sound near your home, it’s best to choose a home with a sound score between 70 and 100.