Factors to Consider when Choosing A New Home Community
There are many considerations to consider when it comes to choosing a new home, like the upcoming Grand Dunman Launch, and these considerations can range from the architecture of the building itself to the size of your new home. But one thing that’s often overlooked is a lifestyle. What kind of amenities does your community offer? Is it close to public transportation, or will you need a car? What are the schools like? And what exactly do they charge for fees, maintenance, and insurance? All these questions will help you decide where to live once you sell your current house in Irvine.
The community’s amenities.
When you think about it, amenities are the things that make life easier. They can include pools, fitness centers, and game rooms–things that help you relax and have fun. When choosing a community for yourself or your loved one, these amenities can affect your decision.
Its location.
A good location is important for a variety of reasons. It’s the first thing you’ll notice when you pull up to the community, and it will help determine whether or not your neighbors are an asset or liability to your daily life. Consider these factors:
- Is there a golf course nearby? Do residents have access to it?
- Is there a park nearby where I can take my dog for walks and play with other dogs in my neighborhood?
- Can I walk down to the lakefront from my apartment, or do I have to drive there whenever I want to go swimming or fishing?
- How close are I to the grocery store, public library, and coffee shop–my three favorite places in town!
The school district.
The school district is a major factor in choosing a community. This can be one of the first or last things you look at. Some families prefer to buy in an area with great schools because they want their children to attend those schools once they’re grown up and out on their own. Other families don’t care about what kind of education their kids receive until they start going there, so they’ll focus more on other factors like price or location before considering which school district will be best for them (or if it matters). If you’re looking for homes near top-ranked elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, and especially if you want your child(ren) to attend those same institutions later on, then this would be your key consideration when searching through new home communities.
Are you allowed to bring your pet?
If you have a pet, make sure they’re allowed in your community. Some communities allow pets, and some don’t. If they do, find out if there are any restrictions on breed or size; some communities will only allow certain breeds, while others may not allow any dogs. If you can’t bring your dog or cat, consider having them stay with a friend or family member until after move-in day (and ensure that person is okay with this).
If pets are allowed into the community, but there are still restrictions on how many animals can live in each home (or even just one), read over these rules carefully so that no surprises pop up during the move-in day!
Monthly Rental Expenses
The cost of living in an area is one of the key considerations when choosing where to live. For example, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is $4,000, while it’s only $2,000 in Des Moines. However, plan on buying your own home instead of renting one. This may not be as relevant because homeowners don’t usually pay rent on their houses–they pay taxes and insurance every year instead (and sometimes maintenance fees).
The next thing you’ll want to know is how much maintenance fees will cost each month or year before signing any contracts with your new community management company or landlord/owner. You don’t want any surprises after moving in.
What does the community charge for fees, maintenance, and insurance?
Before you sign any paperwork, knowing what you’re getting yourself into is important. A good approach to do this is by asking the following questions:
- What are the monthly fees?
- Are they fixed or variable (i.e., some months might be higher than others)?
- What does this include (e.g., utilities, Internet service)? How much do I have to pay separately for cable and phone bills?
- How much is the deposit, and how long does it last for me before I get my money back at a move-out time if everything is in good condition when we leave? If anything else arises during negotiations with your potential new home community that could affect your finances later on, now would also be an excellent time to address that!
Finding the right community takes more than a pretty lawn and a great view.
Before you start looking for a new home, knowing what you’re looking for is important. Things to consider when choosing a community:
- The cost of living in the community. What do you need? How much budget have you set aside for your housing expenses? Are there amenities that will help make up for higher prices, like pools or fitness centers?
- Community fees and amenities offered by the association (if applicable). These can include security systems, lawn maintenance services, and more–but they also come with costs that may be passed onto homeowners in monthly fees or special assessments. If these costs seem too high for your budgeted amount on top of mortgage payments and other expenses like insurance and taxes, finding another community might be necessary before signing anything official with them!
Summary
No matter what kind of home community you’re looking for, plenty of choices exist. But don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by all the options! Instead, focus on what’s important and ensure the community has everything you need before committing to anything else.
