Ghoulishly Good Neighborhoods: How to Find the Perfect Location for Your New Home

St. Louis, MO- October 24^th, 2023- As your faithful local lender, the last thing we want is for you to be spooked during the homebuying process. There are several things to take into consideration while searching for your new home, one of which being finding a neighborhood that best suits you and your needs.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while looking at potential new neighborhoods to settle down in:

Neighborhood Safety: When looking for a new neighborhood, safety should be top priority, especially if you have children! Looking at crime statistics and criminal reports can help you decide whether or not that neighborhood is a safe place for you and your family to live. Other things to consider include neighborhood watches, if the area has good street lighting and to talk with neighbors about if they feel safe or not.

Commute Time: If you commute to work every day, distance matters! As most people who commute to work know, time and distance are not always equal. If you find a home in the suburbs 25 miles outside of town, the commute could easily translate into an hour-long drive or more. Try a test run during peak traffic times to see if the commute from the prospective neighborhood is doable for you!

Local Businesses & Shopping: When looking to see what’s nearby in a new area, restaurants, stores, and entertainment are typically at the top of the list of must haves. Although this doesn’t mean these features need to be within walking distance, it’s nice to know that they can be reached within a short driving distance.

Recreational Activities: Proximity to various recreational activities is also something to take into consideration. Whether it’s a walking trail, gym, or community swimming pool, you’ll want to find a neighborhood that fits how you want to spend your recreational time. If you know you’ll be participating in certain activities more than others, try to find a neighborhood that offers access to those as much as possible.

Schools: Local schools play a large role when choosing a new home in a new neighborhood. While it may not seem like a big deal to those who don’t have children yet, the quality of the school district can actually impact your home’s resale value! If you’re someone who has children that will be attending the school district in which your home is located, talk to people you may know who already live in that area, attend a PTA meeting, or call the school and ask for a quick tour to help decide if that neighborhood or area is somewhere you’d like to live.

Property Taxes: It’s certainly common for people to choose to roll the cost of property taxes into their mortgage payment each month. Taxes can increase over time, though, and should be factored into your decision. When choosing a new neighborhood, look at the average property taxes for the area over the span of several years to see how much they may have increased. As more homes and places of business are built, property values could increase, resulting in higher property taxes, too.

If you’re interested in purchasing a home, it may be a good idea to sit down with a knowledgeable loan officer before you are ready to buy. Gershman Mortgage staffs only the best and brightest loan officers in the game and they will help you make the best decision for you and your family. Especially when it comes to down payments, they can help you determine a price range that fits your budget and how much you’ll need.

When you are ready, contact a Gershman Mortgage Loan Officer to start your journey home today.

About Gershman: Communities, families, and homes are at the heart of what we do at Gershman Mortgage. Our founding principles are based on the core values of honesty, integrity, the entrepreneurial spirit, and putting our customers first. We are passionate and committed to customer service and strive to ensure that we exceed the expectations of our customers. We are a customer-centric company devoted to creating and maintaining long-lasting relationships.

NMLS #138063 16253 Swingley Ridge Road Suite 200 Chesterfield, MO 63017 (800) 457-2357 Equal Housing Lender.