Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Finding the Perfect Neighborhood in Northern Virginia


My last blog post explored how to know if you're ready to buy a home in Northern Virginia, especially if it is your first time making such an important purchase. Once you've asked yourself the important questions, it's time to move on to determining what it is you want in a NoVa home.

There is much more to consider than the number of bedrooms, square footage and backyard— real estate is all about location! Oftentimes, choosing a neighborhood is just as serious as choosing the house itself and for first-time buyers, you'll need to factor in the following:

Affordability
Depending on where you desire to live, affordability will fluctuate greatly. Get pre-approved to determine your price range and then take some time to research home prices, noticing where the higher priced homes are located. You don't want to fall in love with a home that's out of your budget!

Type of neighborhood
Many Northern Virginia homebuyers seek to live in a neighborhood close to restaurants, entertainment, shopping, parks and fitness. It's nice to be located to all of these, but that can also come with heavy traffic and noise. Living in a suburban community can mean a longer commute time and a rural locale can mean travel time to everyday amenities. Make sure you're house-hunting in the right place for you!

School districts
Excellent education is a must-have for homebuyers with children, so factor this into your neighborhood search! You can do a simple search for school ratings and even chat with the city for more details. 

The neighbors
When you tour a neighborhood, pay attention to the people and pets outdoors. You may find a home you love, but a large, noisy dog next door. Look for the empty properties, both retail and residential, as you never know what could be built there next. 

With my decades of experience in Northern Virginia real estate, I will be your inside guide to neighborhoods in the area. Give me a call today!

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 

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