How To Choose The Right Neighborhood: From City Life, Living in the Suburbs, to Living in a Rural Area
There are many choices to make when looking for your new home. One of the choices you might not have considered is the type of neighborhood you want to live in.
While there are suburban and urban communities, there are also more specialized community areas that might better suit your lifestyle. We look at what these neighborhoods have to offer to help you decide what is right for you.
1. Urban Neighborhoods
If you’re drawn to the allure of city living, the downtown and surrounding areas could be for you. These densely populated areas are popular with couples without children and younger professionals. There are fewer single-family homes, with more apartments and townhouses.
Pros
If you want easy access to entertainment, urban neighborhoods are very walkable, and public transport is easily accessible.
Cons
Homes are smaller, condos and apartments being the norm. You might find the city too exciting, with noise and crime, greater problems.
2. Suburban Neighborhoods
You’ll find suburban communities located on the outskirts of cities, benefiting from more space and single-family homes. They tend to have lower crime than urban locations and often benefit from fairly convenient shopping malls, leisure facilities, and retail complexes.
Pros
The suburbs are generally quieter and more relaxed compared to urban living. Since families frequently choose the suburbs, you can typically expect better schools and access to green spaces.
Cons
You may spend more time traveling, and without a car, the lack of public transportation will be a big deal in some neighborhoods.
3. Rural Neighborhoods
If you want a quiet life and love nature, rural neighborhoods will often meet your requirements. Rural living may also suit you if you enjoy wide open spaces and larger homes.
Pros
The cost of living is typically lower, and you will have space to do what you want. You’ll also have more privacy since your neighbors will be further away.
Cons
Since you are likely to be a long way outside of the city, you’ll have a long way to travel for amenities and entertainment. Rural areas can feel isolated, and there are fewer job opportunities.
4. Historic Neighborhoods
If you are drawn to older buildings with more interesting architectural features, historic neighborhoods will be attractive. The United States Department of Interior determines historic communities and adds them to the National Register of Historic Places.
These areas typically include older buildings, perhaps in the Colonial, Art Deco, or Victorian style. They are frequently overseen by preservation organizations with restrictions on the changes you can make.
Pros
These neighborhoods are usually more walkable and close to museums and other forms of entertainment. They’re also likely to hold their value better than other types of homes.
Cons
If you buy in a historic community, maintenance costs can be higher. You might need to follow preservation guidelines with strict restrictions about what can be changed. There is often less access to the amenities that more modern neighborhoods enjoy.
5. Gated Communities
If you value your security, private residential areas with restricted access are a great option. Gated communities are typically better maintained, have access to better amenities, and are more affluent.
Pros
If you want to live in an exclusive and secure community, life behind a gate might be for you. The community might also benefit from more facilities, like swimming pools, gyms, and tennis courts.
Cons
Typically, house prices are higher, along with the neighborhood association fees. You can face more restrictions about how you maintain your home and the changes you might want to make.
6. Master-Planned Neighborhoods
These can be large residential communities that have been carefully planned to make them as walkable as possible. The neighborhood will include parks, restaurants, shops, and grocery stores, as well as amenities like gyms, tennis courts, pools, and sometimes even a golf course.
While planned communities have existed for a long time, they are increasingly focused on specific interests to better meet modern living requirements.
Pros
Easy access to the amenities you would normally expect in a city. Cohesive architectural styles and well-maintained communal areas.
Cons
Homeowners association fees are typically higher, with more restrictions on your home and how you can use it.
7. Walkable Neighborhoods
Walkable neighborhoods are designed for the benefit of pedestrians. They feature well-maintained sidewalks, crossings, and amenities within walking distance. They are usually a mix of residential and commercial property, with recreational spaces nearby.
These neighborhoods can be better for families with children, thanks to less pollution, safer pedestrian areas, and more recreational spaces.
Pros
If you want to improve your health while reducing pollution and increasing your social interaction, walkable neighborhoods offer much. Walkable areas often have higher property values as these are increasingly valued neighborhoods.
Cons
With the focus on pedestrians, there are likely to be fewer parking spaces making things more difficult for homeowners with multiple cars and their visitors. Homes in these areas and goods and services can be more expensive.
8. Active Adult Communities
If you are 55 and up, an active adult or retirement community could offer many benefits. They are often very similar to master-planned communities with suitable amenities included. They provide opportunities to expand the social and active life of residents.
Pros
Maintenance is often included, with the home designed to make living easier for seniors. It is a safe community that allows residents to more easily form friendships.
Cons
With the amenities available and maintenance included, HOA fees can be significant. It can be difficult to adjust to this type of community living when you first move.
9. Pocket Neighborhoods
Pocket neighborhoods are smaller planned communities with a shared courtyard or garden. Typically a dozen or fewer homes are clustered around a shared green space, with shared amenities designed to create a close-knit community.
Homes are often designed to make the most of the central area, with large windows or porches facing this space. This design further enhances community spirit and interaction.
The shared courtyard or garden is the responsibility of everybody in the community. This shared responsibility can mean better security, with neighbors looking out for each other.
Pros
With improved social interaction, these developments more easily create a sense of community spirit and belonging. The overall living experience can improve the quality of life for residents.
Cons
Living in such close quarters with other people, while it has its benefits, also means less privacy. Homes tend to be smaller and less suitable for larger families, with minimal or no private outdoor space.
10. Resort Neighborhoods
If you have a favorite vacation destination, why not live there all year round? A resort community on the coast or in the mountains could fit your lifestyle well if you enjoy outdoor activities.
Resort communities often benefit from great recreational amenities, like swimming pools, spas, gyms, tennis courts, basketball courts, and more. There’s also the resort environment and its scenic locations to enjoy.
Pros
While the location, recreational opportunities, and entertainment are all great reasons to choose the resort community, they aren’t the only benefits. The homes in these communities are often designed to maximize privacy and personal space, and they can also make great investments thanks to their location and facilities.
Cons
During the vacation season, the area is likely to become crowded, and you’ll have to put up with tourist traffic. These resorts can sometimes be more remote, making everyday living less convenient.
11. Ethnic Neighborhoods
Ethnic neighborhoods are communities where a large proportion of the residents share a similar cultural, or national background. They will frequently have stores, businesses, and places of worship to serve that ethnic community.
Pros
Living in a place like this gives you access to authentic restaurants and stores, and allows you to experience cultural events and celebrations. It promotes the preservation of traditional practices and offers strong support networks to people from the same background.
Cons
If you are not from the same ethnic background or speak the language, you might feel like an outsider. These communities can be insular, making integration with people outside the community more difficult.
12. Golf Communities
If you love golf, living next to a course might sound perfect. Homes in a golfing community range from luxury properties to more normal single family homes and condos.
Living in a golf community could give you access to a wide range of amenities, including the clubhouse. There may also be social events and golfing tournaments, strengthening the community. You will have to be a member of the club, though there might be discounted rates or exclusive memberships available.
Pros
For golfers, living close to the course will be very convenient. Your home should benefit from scenic views, and property values should remain strong.
Cons
Property next to a golf course is often more expensive than similar homes elsewhere. HOA fees are likely to be high as well, and there will be restrictions on how you maintain your home and the changes you can make. And there’s always the risk of damage to your home from being hit by golf balls.
How to Choose the Right Neighborhood?
As well as the pros and cons, there are many other things to consider when choosing which neighborhood is right for you. Your real estate agent should be able to offer you some useful advice, perhaps highlighting some things you hadn’t thought about. Here are some factors that could apply to any neighborhood:
Crime Rate
We all want to feel safe in our homes, but if you buy in a high-crime area that may not be the case. Of course, if you have a lower budget buying a house in the safest part of town may not be possible.
It’s easy to check the neighborhood crime rate before looking for a home there. Websites like SpotCrime or CrimeMapping allow you to check out recent crimes in the neighborhood.
While the data you find might be alarming, you should check other areas to help you understand how the neighborhood compares. These sites also give you crime trends and statistical data to help you find safer areas.
Schools
Even if you don’t have kids or plan to, the school district is an important consideration. If there’s a good school nearby, house prices are likely to be higher and more stable in the neighborhood. Good school districts can mean higher property taxes as well.
If you are a parent or plan to be, the school district will be more important to give your child the best start in life. While you might want to save money on the house you buy, being located in the right school district could be far more valuable.
Walkability
Even if you are not buying a home in a neighborhood designed with pedestrians in mind, you should consider how walkable the local area is. Are grocery stores and restaurants near enough to allow you to walk to them?
There is an increasing focus on walkability in new developments because it is what people are looking for. If you don’t know the area, it’s easy enough to check distances to local conveniences with mapping websites.
Even when the neighborhood isn’t walkable, the distance to necessary conveniences should factor into your decision. Would you prefer a 5 or 10-minute drive to the local store rather than a 30-minute trip?
Transport Links
Some neighborhoods have easy access to the nearest highway, and some don’t. Highway accessibility will make commuting and getting around the city easier, improving your experience when living in the neighborhood.
Rail transportation might also be something you want to consider. When buying in an urban or suburban neighborhood, commuter rail can reduce some of the pain of traveling to and from your employer.
Neighborhoods with good transportation connections will usually be more popular than those without. However, if there are railroad tracks or a busy highway nearby, this can negatively affect how sought-after the homes are.
Summing Up The Different Types of Neighborhoods
Choosing the perfect neighborhood you want to live in is very important in your search for a new home. Once you know the kind of neighborhood you want to live in, you can narrow down your hunt for a new home.
Understanding what you want from your neighborhood makes choosing where to live easier, and should make your time in the home more pleasant.
About the author: This article was written by Luke Skar of MadisonMortgageGuys.com. As the Social Media Strategist, he provides original content for all of their social media profiles and generates new leads from his website.
We provide award-winning customer service to clients who need to purchase a home or refinance an existing mortgage.
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