Choosing the right neighborhood for YOU!
There are many factors to consider when buying a home, and the neighborhood it’s in is at the top of that list. Lifestyle can dictate some of your specific criteria, such as choosing a highly-rated school district or having access to a community pool. In general, your lifestyle requirements are helpful in identifying the type of Knoxville neighborhood you will want to buy a home in and live happily ever after.
Crime & Neighborhood Statistics
Living in a safe neighborhood is of the utmost importance to most buyers, especially those with children. Investigate the crime rates in the areas you are considering, and be sure to drive by at night to see what the vibe is like. Social media is also a great place to get more information about crime in an area. Many cities have pages/accounts where people post crimes and disturbances that occur throughout that city. While theft, burglary, or vandalism can occur anywhere, today’s technology makes it fairly easy to see how common these types of activity are to determine whether a certain neighborhood is right for you. No matter what the crime rate is in a given area, it’s always a good idea to drive through the entire neighborhood of any home you are interested in.
Proximity To Work
The location of your workplace also plays a role in choosing a neighborhood to buy a home. How far is the commute in the morning and after work? Will you be going with or against the flow of traffic? It pays to drive your intended route one or two times at peak traffic times so you know what you’ll be up against. Public transportation may also be an option, so be sure to look into bus and commuter train routes that are in close proximity to where you plan to live.
School District
Whether you have children or not, a neighborhood with a good school district is important because it impacts the resale of the homes in that community. Using a site like Great Schools can be helpful to research area schools to see what the school zoning is for various neighborhoods and confirm whether or not a certain home falls within your desired school zone. KGIS is also a great tool that lists the school zones for any address within Knox County.
Access to Amenities
One of the most important things to consider when buying a home is how close it is to certain things. Is the neighborhood close to hospitals, grocery stores, ball fields, parks, and/or bodies of water? Does the neighborhood have its own amenities such as a community pool, clubhouse, workout facility, and/ or walking trails? Make a list of the amenities that are most important to you and ensure that whichever home you choose to buy, the neighborhood is relatively close to those things.
The Neighbors
In our last blog, we discussed how neighbors can affect the sale of your home. The same can be said for the impact neighbors can have on your quality of life after you buy a new home. Take note of the condition of neighborhood homes. Are they clean and well-kept or are they visible eyesores? Ideally, you want a good curb appeal to be consistent throughout the neighborhood. It also pays to drive by on weekend nights to see if the noise levels are under control. Lastly, pay close attention to how close the houses are to each other. Make sure the proximity of the home you’re considering to the neighbors is acceptable, especially from the backyard.
Knoxville Subdivisions
There are many great neighborhoods in the Knoxville area. Explore some of our favorite subdivisions here, and don’t hesitate to call or text our buyer team anytime at (865) 335-0542 if you need more details on a certain neighborhood. We can also schedule a private showing on any of the homes that interest you. If you just need more information, our buyer team can provide you with past sales, neighborhood restrictions, HOA fees, community lifestyle, and proximity to major landmarks for just about any neighborhood in the area.
You made a great point about considering the amenities in the area that you will need to have close by, like schools and hospitals. My sister-in-law and her husband want to buy their first home by the end of summer, but they don’t know where to start. I will advise them to hire a real estate agent that is familiar with the town they plan to move to since they can guide them to a good neighborhood.
I’ve been wanting to purchase a residential home, but since I’m not an expert regarding the current market, maybe it would be best to work with a real estate company. I agree with you that when scouting for a new home, it’s important to drive to its neighborhood an observe the place. It is also true that the distance between the property and my workplace must be considered as well.