Did you know that only 38% of Americans feel happy?
There are many things that contribute to one's happiness -- a major part being where they live .
If we're not satisfied with our surroundings, we're bound to be unhappy to some extent.
So if you're thinking of moving, you should be put extra care into choosing your next home and all the factors that come with it.
Choosing the Right Community
When it comes to choosing your next home and where that will be, there are so many things to consider. This includes what type of home, what general area you want to me in, and, of course, the community you'll be part of.
The whole purpose of a community is to gather people together based on their similar characteristics. So when choosing your next community, you want to make sure it's one you feel you and your family will fit into. Here are some main things to consider.
Lifestyle
This is one of the first points you need to consider. The lifestyle needs of a young couple in their 20s with no kids will be drastically different from a couple in their 40s with children.
For example, if you like to hit up happy hour after work, then you'll want to make sure you live in a neighborhood that has a solid bar scene. If not, then you want to make sure there's easy, reliable transportation from your new community to take you to these places.
Or if you love exploring nature and the great outdoors, you'll want to be located in a community that has parks and trails nearby. You'll also want to be close by to things like nature reserves and national parks.
If you have pets, you'll need to consider them too. You'll probably prefer a neighborhood with a nearby park so you can take them for short walks and let them explore as well.
Commute
The next thing you want to consider is the commute to work. While the majority of workers are still in their home offices, more companies are adapting to hybrid work schedules to get employees in the office.
For some, the commute is more important than the community. If that's you, you'll want to find a neighborhood with easy access to main roads and freeways to shave minutes off your daily commute. It might not seem like much, but it can make a difference in your mental health in the long run.
If the commute isn't too important to you, you'll have a larger radius to search for a home. You'll still want to make sure the commute isn't terrible, or else you'll be spending valuable time stuck in traffic and less time enjoying your new community.
And if you have kids that you need to drop off or pick up from school during your commute, consider that as well.
School District
If you have children, then you'll want to ensure they have a good foundation when it comes to education. It doesn't matter if they're 2 years old or 12; wherever you move, the school system there should have a solid reputation.
You probably already know the city and general area you want to move to, so do an online search to see which schools are best in that area. Once you've narrowed down the target area, you can then go about finding the optimal community for your family based on the other points of consideration on this list.
Perhaps you don't have kids, but rather, you're thinking of going to college yourself. So you probably don't want to move again just to pursue higher education.
In that case, you should check out what the local universities are and how well they rank. If a college you're interested in ranks well but is a bit farther away from your desired neighborhood, you should make a list of pros and cons. See what matters most to you and make a decision based on that.
Crime Rate
Last, but not least, you need to find out your potential community's crime rate.
What's great about the internet is there are hundreds of free online tools to find the crime rates of any location.
There are also crime maps generated by security businesses like ADT. These help you narrow down what crime rates are in specific zip codes, down to even address, so you know how safe the neighborhood you're looking at is.
So now that you have some tips for finding the perfect community, you can start searching for your new home. Use these tips to help you make the right decision.
At Brightland Homes, we believe happiness starts at home, and we’re here to help you find the perfect house for you and your family. Fill out the form below today, and we'll get started.
