4 Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Neighborhood

When searching for a new home, you’re not just looking for a new place to live, you’re looking for a new community to eventually call home. If you’ve decided that Houston, Texas is the place for you, you’ve more than likely seen the abundance of different neighborhoods and communities that make Houston the fabulous city it is. 

Trust us, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. For over a decade, the team at Colina Homes has delivered an affordable and seamless home-buying experience for residents in over 20 different neighborhoods across the Houston area. To help guide you home, we’ve compiled a short (but important) list of things to consider when selecting the perfect new home and neighborhood for you and your family.

Things to Consider

Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming move to Houston or deciding to stay with us in this city steeped with culture and experiences like no other, we’re glad to have you.

Houston is a sprawling metropolis made up of many different neighborhoods that are each unique in their own way. The first step in determining what could be your new neighborhood starts by taking a close look at your wants and needs.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of budgeting or location, below are some great questions to get the ball rolling when coming up with a list of “must-haves” you have for your new neighborhood. 

Do you want to live in the hustle and bustle of downtown? Or somewhere in between with more green space? 

• Do you want to live in the heart of the action where you can walk to everything, or do you value quiet time and wouldn’t mind a short drive to your favorite coffee shop? 

• Do you have kids? Do you want kids? Or maybe even your pets are your kids? Finding a neighborhood with great schools and plenty of open spaces should be considered.

• Are you #WFH like so many of us? Or are you returning to work in the office? Think about what your future commute might look like when considering a neighborhood. 

• Do you have a car? Or do you rely on public transportation? Or maybe as part of your New Year’s resolution, you want to bike to work more? Accessibility to parking, transit, and bike paths could be a determining factor when deciding on your new neighborhood.

• Are you ready to mow your own lawn and consider yourself Houston’s newest plumber at a moment's notice? Or does living in a condo or apartment where maintenance is done by someone other than 2014’s Garbage Disposal Clogging World Champion sound more appealing? 

Now, after you’ve imagined all the different scenarios possible, and hopefully come up with requirements for your new home and neighborhood, let’s talk about the four points that are crucial when deciding on your future home.

The Logistics of a New Home

These equally important points are key considerations to have when preparing to move. 

• Price

• Location

• School

• Safety

Price

Price is the first point for good reason—you should identify what your budget is and if you can afford to own a home right now. While this isn’t the glamorous part of deciding on a property, it is the most important one. 

Knowing your budget will help categorize finances into several payments you will have to make as a future homeowner, and you will be able to determine if buying a home is something in the near future. 

Generally, some fees you will have to pay as a homeowner include: 

• Down payment 

• Closing costs

• Loan fees

Once you have assessed all the numbers and targeted a price point, you’re one step closer to finding your home! At Colina Homes, we have affordable prices all across our various communities. Navigate to Communities on our website to begin your search! 

Location

Depending on your circumstances, location and price might be interchangeable—and that’s totally fine! When considering a location, it's important to note the proximity to your job, nearest stores, family and friends, and favorite leisure spots. The best part about our Colina Homes communities is that they reside in well-developed neighborhoods and are central to many of HTX’s hot spots.

School

If you have a family or are planning to have one, school zones are to certainly be considered when selecting a new place to live in. Schools in your selected community are important as they will help determine the proximity of your daycare, elementary school, middle school, or high school—and the overall quality of your child's schooling. 

Many families today choose to live in specific neighborhoods where there is higher competition in education, sports, or the arts. Make sure to do your research as you determine the best place for your child or teenager to grow up in.

Safety

Keeping yourself and those nearest to you safe is always top of mind. Although it’s certainly not a fun topic, safety is an important point to consider when planning where you want to call home. If you’re curious to learn more about a neighborhood’s overall safety, take a look at the Community Crime Departments by the Houston Police Department. We also encourage home cameras to keep your family safe!

We’re here to help. 

Questions on finding your dream community in one of Houston’s neighborhoods? Our team is ready and eager to help. Reach out to us today.