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!