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How to Find the Right Neighborhood for Your Family

by | Mar 15, 2021 | Real Estate Tips, Relocating to Utah, Salt Lake City, YourHome

family neighborhood

Before kids, your choice of neighborhood probably came down to: can I afford it? Is it close to work? 

Now that you have a family, schools, safety, and access to amenities are just the start. How do you know which is the best family neighborhood in your city?

We’ve got you covered. Below are six great things to consider when looking for a neighborhood for you and your family.

Consider Your Lifestyle Needs

Some families are outdoorsy and active, always on the go. For that reason, the heart of the city may not be the best neighborhood for your family. Other families prefer the variety of music lessons and sports teams offered downtown.

Knowing what your lifestyle requires or what you want to offer for your kids as they grow up is key. Maybe your child has certain medical needs that require you to be close to a hospital. Please make a list of your family needs and keep it handy as you research where to move. 

Take Advantage of the Internet

Trust us; the internet is going to be your best friend during this process. There are a few ways you can use it to your advantage.

First, research schools that fall within the districts of your top choice neighborhoods. Look at their school assessments. You want to move to a place with schools at the same level or better than the ones your kids are attending now.

You can even tour each new house you find by looking into virtual tours. See what’s available in different parts of town.  

Visit Your New Neighborhood or Town

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, take a drive to those neighborhoods. Bring the whole family and spend a day walking around.

Visit the shops or local attractions to get a feel for what it’s like. Take a look at how clean the roads are and whether there are signs of vandalism.

Neighborhood visits can be extra useful in helping teenagers adjust to a new place. They can picture what their lives might be like, get a sense of how they’ll make new friends and what activities they’ll join.

Drive Through During Different Times of the Day

To get a true feel for the neighborhood when you visit, drive through it at different parts of the day. Morning traffic may be more than you’re willing to take on. All the theater, music, and sports activities may not start until 7 pm.

Contact the Local Police Department

Did you know you can research a neighborhood’s safety rating online? If you’d rather talk to someone in the know, you can also contact local police departments. 

Local police can direct you to resources on crime statistics. Ask them for suggestions on neighborhoods with the highest safety ratings.

Evaluate Other Cost of Living Factors

Here’s where pesky things like income rates, gas prices, and commute times come into play. If you find a great new home that’s 45 minutes away, are you willing to spend more time and money commuting every day?

Is the minimum wage going to help your teens save for college or pay for gas? Are jobs growing and houses going up in value? Then you’re likely making a great investment. 

Finding the Best Family Neighborhood

Don’t rush into your next move. The right home in the right location will be a place to make memories for years to come. Use these tips to feel confident that you’ve found the perfect family neighborhood. 

So you’ve landed in the right neighborhood? Now you need to find the perfect house. To get started, contact one of our real estate agents.

Tips for First Time Home Buyers

by | Apr 10, 2019 | Moving Tips, Salt Lake City, Uncategorized, YourHome

Buying your first home is a very exciting time, but first-time homebuyers can also feel a bit anxious if you do not have all the information you need or are not fully prepared for all the costs necessary to buy a home.

 

Here are some things to consider to help you be prepared for your big move.

  • First and foremost, determine a realistic amount for how much you can afford.Consider your current monthly budget, leave room for miscellaneous home costs and repairs, like HOA fees, taxes and insurance. Then determine the amount you can afford for a house payment, considering what percentage of your take-home pay can be used.

 

  • Pay off all debt. Carrying debt will not only decrease the amount you will qualify for but can also add stress to your monthly bottom line
  • Save for a down payment. Having 20% down is ideal, that will get you into a position of not having to pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
  • Save for closing costs. Typically, closing costs are 3-4% of the purchase price. Once you have a good idea of the home price, you can get to this number easily.
  • Loan pre-approval. Once you have paid off debt and saved for closing cost, it is a good idea to have a lender pre-approve you for a loan. This will help expedite the closing process and give you an idea of what amount you actually qualify for.
 

  • When it comes time to finding the perfect house, research desirable neighborhoods to find the best fit.

 

  • Hire a real estate agent that can help you navigate the maze of open houses and do all the necessary paperwork!
Downsizing and Moving Into a Smaller Home
More ideas can be found here:

Why You Should Work With a Realtor

Why Work With a Real Estate Relocation Agent? 3 Ways You Will Benefit!

Tips for an Easy Move: 7 Strategies To Save Your Hassle and Headaches

3 Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Real Estate Agent

by | Apr 26, 2017 | Real Estate Agent Tips, Real Estate Tips

3 Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Salt Lake City real estate market is thriving right now. The pandemic didn’t seem to affect much the real estate market here, unlike other states of our country that are going through a rough time.

In an environment like that, a decent real estate agent should be easy to find, right? Wrong.

Just because you’re in a thriving market doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do your research. Every booming market has its share of subpar agents hoping to ride the wave to success.

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a real estate agent, and many traits to look for. We’ll talk about a few of them in this article.

1. Communication

The mark of any good business person is the ability to listen. Communication is key and everyone benefits. It’s much easier to sell to a client if you know what they want.

For instance, why are you buying the home? Are you moving into it, or is it an investment property? Your answers may change how the agent approaches and handles the case.

Nobody wants to live in a dirty, run-down house. However, if you’re looking to resell, it might not matter. You were likely planning to spruce up the home anyways and sell it at a profit.

But it’s about more than talking and listening. It’s about understanding how you communicate best. Most people prefer to text, email, or call on a cellphone when they want to reach someone.

You’ll need to be able to contact each other quickly. This will help you buy the house you want before someone else does.

2. Experience

Finding an agent with experience can give you a significant advantage. They know how the market works.

They can help you up the price of your current home, negotiate the price of a prospective home.

Experience also means that they’re good enough to keep their job. Even so, it’s best to ask questions before deciding on an agent.

How often do they make sales? Do their clients’ houses sell at a high price? Do they end up buying homes at a reasonable price?

3. Others Recommend Them

There’s usually nobody we trust more than our family and friends. They’ve done a lot for us, so when they offer advice, we pay attention to it. For this reason, they may be the best place to start when looking for real estate agents.

It doesn’t have to be those close to you. Every opinion you can find may help. Read reviews and see what previous clients think of them.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent Who’s Right for You

Choosing a real estate agent can be difficult because a lot goes into finding the right one. We’ve offered some advice on what to look for in an agent, but there’s more to consider. You may want to do more research to make sure you’re prepared.

For more articles on real estate, especially in the Salt Lake City area, please visit our site. Are you thinking of buying a home in Salt Lake City? We’re here to help.