Neighborhood | Xavier SNPHA

The Importance of Choosing the Right Neighborhood

Posted by admin | Posted on 16-12-2010

Tags: Choosing, Importance, Neighborhood, Right

The Importance of Choosing the Right Neighborhood

When looking to buy a home one of the first and most important considerations is the neighborhood. The location of the property is vital since it would offer security and safety, education for the children, shopping, public bus lines, restaurants, and so on. The bottom line is this – if the home you buy is in the right neighborhood, a location you love, your life, and the enjoyment you get from being in your new home are going to be incredible.

You could choose a large, expensive home that equates to the ultimate dream house but if it sits in a bad neighborhood, one in disrepair and with a high crime rate, then you would never appreciate or enjoy your home and the time you spend there. In addition, the value of your property will be based on a number of factors, one being location. This means the higher quality property you buy in the right neighborhood, the more opportunity for getting a lot from the investment.

Following are some helpful tips that will show you how to choose the right neighborhood.

* Spend time in the car driving through neighborhoods you find appealing. We recommend you start in areas near your existing home, or areas that offer the types of services and amenities you are most interested in finding such as schools, libraries, grocery stores, etc. You should also drive through neighborhoods that are within close proximity to your family and friends. Take a pad of paper and pen with you, taking note of subdivisions or even houses you like. * As you drive or walk around, any homes that have a box with fliers, take one. This should be for homes you might be interested in but all homes, which would give you the opportunity to compare style, square footage, amenities, etc. The fliers also provide names and contact information for realtors so if you have questions or any of the homes caught your eye, you would know the person to contact.

* After finding one or more areas of interest, you can then use the power of the internet to look at listings in that those specific subdivisions or neighborhoods. For this, you can look at any number of real estate websites or log onto company sites taken directly from the fliers. Once online, you will be privy to much more information about the area, but also specific homes.

* Keep in mind, after narrowing down your choices to one or two neighborhoods, you want to drive back through during different times of the day and night. If you drive through in the mid-afternoon, you would get a much better feel for the number of children in the neighborhood or in the early evening hours, if speeders going up and down the street were a problem.

* Next, if you have school-aged children, you want to identify the different schools in the area. This could be done by driving around, asking a local store, or getting in touch with the city’s Board of Education. In addition to finding schools, you should also determine the average SAT score of children graduating from the high school, teacher to student ratio, percentage of students that actually graduated, percentage of students that moved on to college, etc. With the information, you would be able to determine if schools in the neighborhoods you like are a good fit.

* You can also visit with people living in the neighborhoods you like, hearing real input about positive and negative aspects of each area. You could learn about crime, property taxes, nearest fire and police station, and much more.

* Your commute to and from work will also be a consideration in the neighborhood you finally choose. If the area is everything you want and more, then you might be willing to drive further but only you can make this decision. Along with the commute, be sure to look for services you find most important, again grocery stores, pharmacies, playgrounds, hospital, and so on.

As you can see, numerous factors must be considered when trying to find the right neighborhood. While this might take some time and effort, knowing your priorities and then looking for the area that matches will provide you with a peaceful and enjoyable place to live.

Oliver Darraugh is a real estate specialist with one of the many sell rent back companies online.

Article from articlesbase.com

Austin Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Posted by admin | Posted on 14-11-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: Austin, Clarksville, Neighborhood, Profiles

Austin Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Austin Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Free Online Articles Directory

Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
AB Answers

Publish Article

0 && $.browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($.browser.version);
if(ie_version Hello Guest
Login

Email

Password

Remember me?
Lost Password?

Home Page > Finance > Real Estate > Austin Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Austin Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Edit Article |

Posted: May 21, 2008 |Comments: 0

Ask a question

Ask our experts your Real Estate related questions here…200 Characters left

The Top Neighborhood for Austin Texas Real Estate is Steiner Ranch!

Posted by admin | Posted on 16-07-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: Austin, Estate, Neighborhood, Ranch, Real, Steiner, Texas

The Top Neighborhood for Austin Texas Real Estate is Steiner Ranch!

Steiner Ranch, in MLS area RN, or zip code 78732, was named “Best Master-Planned Community” in the greater Austin area from the Austin Business Journal in 2004. And for good reason. This mega-community, bordered by RR 620 to the north, Lake Austin to the West and South, and neighboring River Place to the east encompasses a nature preserve-like atmosphere to complement its stellar location of rolling hills and the winding placidity of Lake Austin, which, moderated by the LCRA, retains a constant depth year round.

With 819 acres set aside for preservation and 12 miles of trails, Steiner prides itself in fusing well with its environment. The 27,000-acre Balcones Canyonland Conservation Preserve surrounds the development, offering many homes and sites the backyard of a consistent greenbelt. The general area hosts 10 golf courses, eight boat launches, 19 marinas and 15 public parks. Water enthusiasts are within 5 minutes of either Fritz Hughes, Selma Hughes or Mary Quinlan Parks, all providing public access to Lake Austin.

Within Steiner, homeowners are required to respect the design standards and upkeep of the community by paying two installments totaling 0 in HOA dues. These dues not only include trash and recycling service, but also employ a full-time activities director who helps organize events such as summer camps and wine tastings. Gated areas within Steiner Ranch have additional fees to cover the gates and private street maintenance.

The University of Texas’ own Golf Club, a 71 – 7,225 yard championship course, sprawls over 275 acres in the middle of the neighborhood. Wincing and regrouping from a fire that downed the clubhouse at the beginning of 2008, the home course for the University’s Men’s and Women’s varsity golf programs offers very limited membership opportunity for local golfers.
Lake Austin Spa, the only destination health spa in the country with a waterfront location, is located at the southern tip of Steiner Ranch. Ranked #2 by Conde Nast Traveller as the best destination spa in North America, the spa has recently renovated its rooms with an eye on the top spot. Housing an intimate 40-room resort with a new 25,000 sq foot spa facility, their laid back approach on 19 acres continues to live up to its reputation.

Not surprisingly, schools get good marks at Steiner Ranch. Served by the Leander Independent School District, students attend Recognized Steiner Ranch Elementary, and both Exemplary Laura Welch Bush Elementary and Canyon Ridge Middle Schools, all located within the community. Nearby Cedar Park High is the destination for 9th-12th grade students.

With so much to offer, Steiner Ranch still manages to offer homes for many different types of buyers. Starting in the low 0’s (and heading well over million), homeowners enjoy larger homes ranging from 2,000-7,000 sq feet.

Austin Texas Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Posted by admin | Posted on 01-07-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: Austin, Clarksville, Neighborhood, Profiles, Texas

Austin Texas Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

The West Austin area of Clarksville was originally a freedman’s colony for slaves freed after the Civil War. It now has a very diverse population, and this diversity is reflected in the various nationalities of the residents. There is an excellent public grade school in Clarksville, named Mathews Elementary.

Every fall, Mathews holds a carnival on the grounds, which includes the Clarksville Annual International Dinner and the Octoborama Festival, which is held at the end of October. During Octoberama, local musicians, many of whom are the parents or relatives of Mathews School students, perform at the carnival. Also, most of the kids bring large quantities of food to be sold at the International Dinner, to reflect the cuisine of the countries of their origin.

Since most of the University of Texas Division of Housing apartment complexes are located in the West Austin area, and the grade school children residing there with their parents attend Mathews, many ethnicities and heritages are represented at the dinner, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, and various African and other nationalities. While at the Octoberama Festival, you can hear local musicians, sample all kinds of homemade food, watch contests such as two-legged races and relay races, and enjoy juggling and face-painting, which all of the kids love.

Right down the street from the school is another Austin legend, Nau’s pharmacy, which has one of the oldest soda fountains in Austin. You can have eggs for breakfast or a shake after school at Nau’s, and then head down to the 9th Street dog park.

There is also a “Moonlight Tower”, another local landmark, in the area of the Castle. Austin and Clarksville are home to many local politicians and well-known Austinites. Ann Richards was a regular at the drug store soda fountain, and most Hollywood celebrities visit the restaurants when in Austin.

San Francisco Neighborhood Guide For Homebuyers

Posted by admin | Posted on 11-02-2009

Category : Region V

Tags: Francisco, Guide, Homebuyers, Neighborhood

San Francisco Neighborhood Guide For Homebuyers

San Francisco is one of the most interesting cities in the world. With its laid-back sophistication and broad-minded elegance, it is no wonder that real estate in San Francisco is highly sought after. It is a competitive real estate market, with homes tending to sell fairly quickly, and often over asking price; but with due diligence it is possible to find the perfect home at an affordable price.

If you are looking for a home in San Francisco, understanding the layout and neighborhood distinctions is important. San Francisco is a compact city, covering an area of approximately 7 x 7 miles. It is organized into 10 Districts, each determined by geographic boundaries. Within these Districts are neighborhoods. Some are characterized by distinct ethnic and cultural heritage, others by lifestyle or industry.

Districts 1, 2, and 3 are at the westernmost edge of San Francisco, and were among the last areas of the city to be developed. Because of their proximity to the Pacific Ocean the weather in these Districts can be changeable, switching from some of that famous San Francisco fog to brilliant sunshine when the ocean breezes kick in.

District 1 – Northwest

The Richmond District, as District 1 is sometimes known, is a culturally diverse community surrounded by parks and recreational spots; Lincoln Park, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and the Pacific Ocean. Homes range from the exclusive mansions in Sea Cliff to the tidy little Victorian and Edwardian single-family homes of Laurel Heights.

District 2 – Central West

District 2, sometimes referred to as the Sunset District, is home to the UCSF Medical School and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. This District has the laid back feel of a small town, with an intriguing ethnic mix and some great restaurants. Housing in District 2 is eclectic, ranging from early mid-century homes by Henry Doelger, to the whimsical houses designed by Oliver Rousseau.

District 3 – Southwest

District 3 is home to San Francisco State University and the Stonestown Galleria, which is a suburban style shopping mall plunked down right in the city. Residences in District 3 range from the gracious homes in Merced Manor and Pine Lake Park, to the single-family, middle class homes built by the Gellert brothers in Lakeshore.

Districts 4, 5, and 6 are in the heart of San Francisco and include some of the more colorful neighborhoods in the city – Haight Ashbury, the Castro District, and the western edge of the Mission District. Some of the most gracious homes in the city can be found within the boundaries of these districts.

District 4 – Twin Peaks West

Some of the most diverse architecture in the city can be found in District 4. The cozy neighborhood of West Portal is the business hub of the area, typified by independently owned shops and small restaurants, surrounded by well maintained single-family homes. Wide curving boulevards characterize many neighborhoods in District 4. Forest Hill and St. Francis Wood are gracious residence parks with architectural styles ranging from French Country to Georgian and Tudor. Sherwood Forest has some of the city’s largest residential lots and a diversity of styles, including custom contemporary and California ranch. For the mid-century modern enthusiast, Diamond Heights is an exciting community of mid-century single-family homes, apartments and condos, and just may have the largest concentration of Eichler homes in the city.

District 5 – Central

A rich variety of homes and amazing character are what one can expect in District 5. Haight Ashbury still boasts the Bohemian ambience that once made it so famous. Duboce Triangle is a rapidly changing community, and one of the sunnier areas of the city. Twin Peaks offers some of the most spectacular panoramic vistas in San Francisco, and Noe Valley has become a much-coveted residential area. District 5 may well be one of the most socially diverse areas in the city.

District 6 – Central North

District 6 is where one can find an abundance of the Victorian architecture San Francisco is so famous for. Alamo Square, home to the famous Victorian “Painted Ladies” is in District 6, along with some exquisite views of the city. Hayes Valley is a hipper, trendier part of the district and real estate there includes a unique mix of lofts, condos, and distinctive homes.

The City’s downtown and northern waterfront follows the bay from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate. It is here that tourists flock to visit Fisherman’s Wharf. Once home to the Barbary Coast, North Beach boasts a vibrant nightlife and interesting history. Pick up the city beat in Downtown San Francisco, where fame and fortune abound. Chinatown, cable cars, world-class restaurants, and luxury hotels lure visitors and residents alike to Districts 7 and 8.

District 7 – North

Cow Hollow, the Marina, Pacific Heights, and Presidio Heights are the neighborhoods in District 7. Pacific Heights is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Francisco. This prestigious real estate includes luxury condos with stunning views, co-ops, and elegant mansions. Nearby Cow Hollow and the Marina attract a young affluent crowd with a great singles scene, trendy bars, and a wide variety of interesting homes.

District 8 – Northeast

District 8 is San Francisco at its most urbane. Downtown is the cultural heart of the city, while the Financial District is the economic center. Nob Hill and Russian Hill are two well-recognized, old money neighborhoods in this district, while North Beach is an artsy, vibrant neighborhood, full of quaint single-family homes and apartments.

Districts 9 and 10 have historically been the more industrial areas of San Francisco. Here you will find AT&T Park and Monster Park, home to the San Francisco Giants, and the San Francisco 49ers, respectively.

District 9 – Central East

District 9 is a mix of residential and industrial real estate. The new UCSF research campus has led to the rapid development of an affluent neighborhood in Mission Bay, where there was once a sprinkling of warehouses, shipping yards, and factories. Potrero Hill is a mellow, family-oriented neighborhood that appears to be in the process of being “discovered”. South of Market, or SoMa, is a high tech mecca by day and a nightspot after dark. Housing there is moderate to expensive with industrial as well as residential living spaces.

District 10 – Southeast

District 10 probably has the most affordable real estate in San Francisco. It is a light industrial warehouse area, with a culturally diverse population. Homes in the area tend to be owner-occupied, single family dwellings and apartments.

Renee Adelmann is a Bay Area Realtor who specializes in modern San Francisco homes. Contact Renee for your modernist home buying needs in the Bay Area and explore current listings including San Francisco lofts for sale.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Neighborhood

Austin Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

The Top Neighborhood for Austin Texas Real Estate is Steiner Ranch!

Austin Texas Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

San Francisco Neighborhood Guide For Homebuyers

Twitter Updates...

Recommend Websites

Views

Categories

Recent Posts