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How to Find the Perfect Neighborhood for You

Bob Maiocco

I love Colorado and it shows! I am so grateful to be living my dream...

I love Colorado and it shows! I am so grateful to be living my dream...

Oct 29 8 minutes read

Imagine how easy life can be when you find the perfect neighborhood for you or your family. Let's face it, your neighborhood is just as important as your house. From The Ridge in Evergreen to King's Valley in Conifer, every neighborhood has its nuances and will offer solutions that have to be prioritized accurately as an integral part of your search.  If you don't consciously consider each of the pros and cons of each community  with your neighborhood it might eventually lead to you not finding the highest level of satisfaction with your home. Do your research, and I'll help you with the inside scoop and my and my other clients' experiences,  to determine what a neighborhood has to offer you. 

This article will explain the things that you should be looking at in a foothills neighborhood during the buying process.

Location

Location is everything. Imagine living in an amazing area, but you work over 50 miles away. Evergreen is the right answer for so many who enjoy the mountain lifestyle and appreciate it's convenience to Denver to the east and skiing and fun in the mountains west. Even though you might get more for your money lost deep in the woods, that does not mean you need to consider that home unless you are able to work from home and the availability of high speed broadband is confirmed! 

In Evergreen, things that you might not even consider outside the mountains might make a big difference in your enjoyment.  A common example is a driveway on the north or shady side of a hill.  Let's just say the sunny side of the mountain is better.

What are the three most important things about real estate?  Location, location, location!  The difference between North Evergreen versus South Evergreen or Aspen Park versus Richmond Hill aren't always intuitive.  

The good news is you don't have to learn by trial and error:

Schools

If you have kids in your home then schools may be the most important factor to your neighborhood. Some people are looking for a school nearby for their kids to walk to school and some are seeking schools for children with special needs. The best advice we could give is to decide on the schools you enjoy first, then begin looking for the neighborhoods around the school.  We're fortunate that Evergreen and Conifer are well known for top rated schools!

Many of my clients benefit from interviewing the principals at schools they've considered.  There's nothing more insightful than the staff sharing their mission and style directly.  I'm happy to assist in arranging those meetings.

There are many online resources such as GreatSchools.org where you can look up the schools in your area and their rating. Once you have decided on a school that you believe will be best for your family, visit the school. 

Your Neighbors

Asking the locals in an area is a great way to see if you would enjoy it there. Locals will know the area best and can make you aware of the perks and issues. Most people love chatting about their neighborhood and where they live. By asking questions, you can find out what the most common gathering places are, any challenges specific to the neighborhood and more inside scoops that might not be revealed otherwise.

Whether at the Buchanan Rec center or sitting at a table in the  Willow Creek restaurant overlooking the lake.  You'll be impressed with the stories you'll hear in response to some well thought out questions.


Property Values

The value of a property plays a huge role on choosing a neighborhood. If your desired neighborhood has high value homes this means higher taxes for Jefferson County to provide services in the area. If a home has a declining property value, like we had in 2008, it can directly impact the value of the entire neighborhood. An area that once was a great looking place to live can slowly turn into a run down location in need of some tender, love, and care.  

In terms of choosing a home in each respective neighborhood I recommend to subscribe to the old adage of not choosing the most expensive home in the neighborhood.  

Values tend to pull toward the middle.  If the home value is above the average it may appreciate slower or take longer to sell than those closer in value to the average.

Property Taxes

Taxes will vary by neighborhoods, so you should definitely consider them when buying a home. Like we stated above with property values, areas that are appreciating in value are also going to have larger taxes. Many cities have specific times of the year where they reassess home values to ensure the local government is getting the proper amount of tax revenue to provide the city with services. This is why it is not always wise to purchase a home at the top of your price range if you are buying in a neighborhood with increasing values because the taxes you pay will go up in cost as well. Purchasing at the top of your budget can make the excitement of purchasing a home become a nightmare when all your other expenses roll in.

This is why it is important to make sure you consider all the expenses that come with owning a home. We can always help you with any questions you have, so do not be scared to give us a call. 

Safety

While some consider safety to be the most important factor in a neighborhood, not everyone can afford to live in a gated community, nor does everyone want to live in a community like that. However, you can look at the Jeffco sheriff's reports and crime reports to see what mischief goes on in a specific area. You can even use online resources like crime maps to get an idea of the crime rate in certain areas.


Luckily we are fortunate to live in what I consider a very low crime rate area.  However, we occasionally hear stories that serve as a reminder that Evergreen isn't completely sheltered from reality.

Bottom Line

The neighborhood that you live in can have a greater impact on your satisfaction than the home itself. The right house in the wrong area will leave you unhappy in the long-run. Research online, speak with locals, and drive around the surrounding area to determine the if the neighborhood is right for you or your family. 

Many of my buyer clients enjoy when I spend time with them going over a map of Evergreen even before we look at listings to discuss the pros and cons of each neighborhood and feeder area for various schools.

My hand drawn maps have led many buyers to their dream home!

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