How many times have you fallen in love with a house?
It has everything.
- The large bedrooms
- The amazing lot
- pool
- great curb appeal
- upgraded gourmet kitchen
- hardwood floors
Wow what a house. Then what seems to be the problem.
Well, the neighborhood is hit or miss. I have been here 3 years and I have not spoken to one neighbor. No one even waves at me. No social activities or get togethers. It just seems barren.
Whatever your needs or wants are. Please do not make the same mistake I made twice. Do not buy the house. Buy the community and then look for a house you like. Never settle on the community. The community can make or break your "Quality of life"
When looking for a community write down what you are looking for.
- Are schools important to you?
- Do you like tree-lined streets?
- Sidewalks?
- Are the number of basketball hoops on the driveways important to you?
- Do you like gated?
- Do you like being social?
I always tell my buyers to knock on the doors and meet your potential neighbors before buying a house. Remember you are going to have to live with these neighbors so meet them beforehand. A bad neighbor can really make your life more difficult than it has to be.
For me, it was important not to be in a gated neighborhood because I lived in 2 gated neighborhoods and neither one was a friendly neighborhood. I have 2 young kids and I wanted a friendly neighborhood. One where everyone waves to you and kids are in the streets throwing the football around. I was lucky and I did find what I was looking for. I certainly had to settle on the house, but the community I was not settling for.
I also found that in gated neighborhoods people tend to live in their house and non-gated neighborhoods they live outside and on the sidewalks and in their yards. That was important to me, but may not be to you.
Make sure you write down what would make up your utopian community. Drive around. Talk to friends. Talk to real estate agents. Talk to neighbors. Find the community first and then find the house.
Never settle on the community as the community defines the lifestyle you are going to live.
David Serle
Vice President/Managing Broker
RE/MAX Services
561-912-3500 Office
561-912-3502 Direct
561-756-3104 Mobile
