Top 10 "Must Haves" to Identify a good Boise Neighborhood

Top 10 List of Must Haves to Identify a good Neighborhood 

What makes a Neighborhood Great? You have decided to finally get off the fence and take the plunge.  You have gone to your lender and now pre-approved for a loan.  You are now ready to start looking at homes in Idaho.  Your first steps are to start looking online and you are amazed at the differences in prices.  Why it is that one home with all the granite countertops, hardwood floors, and fancy fixtures is a hundred thousand dollars less than the fixer-upper?  The answer is simple.  Remember the three golden rules of real estate:  Location, location, and, yes you guessed it, location.  How do you know if a location is good or not?  We have devised a list of 10 things to look for when home shopping to determine if you are in a high-quality neighborhood or not.

1.      Low Crime Rate.  Are there a lot of burglaries, accidents, or other crimes taking place in the neighborhood?  You can go to law enforcement websites to find out if the neighborhood is relatively safe.

2.      Excellent Schools.  Even if you do not have children, people seek out neighborhoods with homes that are in high performing schools and this will help with the resale value.

3.      Low Traffic in the Neighborhood.  Is the road through the neighborhood a major cut through street or do the cars speed through the neighborhood?

4.      No Noise Nearby.  Is it close to the flight path for the airport or is the interstate on the next block?

5.      Well Maintained Homes and Yards.  Are the other homes in good condition?  Old broken down vehicles in the front yard generally is a bad sign.

6.      Lots of Cars Parked in the Streets Day and Night.  If there are five or six vehicles in front of each home might mean there are multiply roommates or large groups of people living in the home and could be a negative for the neighborhood.

7.      Visit the neighborhood during Different Times of Day.  Most neighborhoods are generally quiet during weekday business hours.  People are generally at work or, if they are up all night partying, sleeping.  You should visit the neighborhood different days and times to make sure it matches your lifestyle.

8.      Close to Employment, Shopping, and Services.  Having services nearby is a nice feature but if you can see the neon lights from your bedroom window or hear the delivery trucks all night, its a bummer.

9.      Real Estate Signs For Sale Signs at every other House.  Why is everyone moving?  Are there a higher than average number of foreclosures or turnover?  Find out why this is happening.

10. Environmental Issues affecting the Neighborhood.  Industrial waste, above ground electricity lines, or toxic water sources are all potential environmental health issues that would need to be identified before you purchased the home. 

When shopping for homes in Idaho, it is just as important to look at the neighborhood, as it is the home itself.  Try to gather as much information as possible by asking the neighbors, friends, family, etc. You would be surprised to find out what they have to say!  Neighborhoods can have a significant affect on resale values.  Even though the home you are considering is in pristine condition- if the other homes around you are falling apart and are not well maintained, it will definitely affect the resale value on your Idaho home for sale. Your home purchasing decision making should actually start well before you even walk through that front door- You'll always be thankful for the extra time spent researching the surrounding neighborhood.