5 Tips to Help You Assess Neighborhoods in Central Pennsylvania

5 Tips to Help You Assess Neighborhoods in Central Pennsylvania

If you’re new to the area and looking to relocate to Central Pennsylvania or are making a move from one special place to another, every town, neighborhood, and county is very different. Depending on what you’re looking for and your priorities, finding the perfect location may be just as important as finding the perfect home. Whether you’re looking in Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, or somewhere in between, check out these 5 tips to help you assess the different neighborhoods. 

1. Look into local school districts

For those with children, this is probably already on your radar. But if you’re looking to buy a home and don’t yet have kids but plan to, this is also important for you. The local school district you buy your house in will greatly influence your children throughout the years. Are you looking for particular curriculums, classes, sports, or other items provided at school? Make sure your local district checks those boxes. 

It’s also important to look into the statistics of how the local school district is performing. The quality of the schools your children could potentially attend can be found in those statistics. Whatever your reason for reviewing the schools around your neighborhood, what you find may sway your decision to purchase one way or the other. 

2. Review newly opened businesses and recently closed ones in your area

Seeing what businesses have recently opened or closed in a neighborhood is a great way to gauge whether a community is growing or declining. Newly opened businesses can indicate the area you’re in is on the upswing, while recently closed businesses could be a sign of low to no economic growth in the area. Not only does this influence your current decision to buy, but both factors can affect the value of your home in current and future markets.

3. Map out your commute to work 

This should be done to know the time it will take you to get to and from work and to consider what conditions you will be commuting in. How long will you be on the go each day? Is your route to work mostly highway or back roads? Does it look like a lot of start and stop traffic will impact your commute? Consider these questions and take a ‘test commute’ to see what it’s like. 

4. Walk around the local streets, parks, and schools

Take some time to get outdoors and check out your local neighborhood. It’s great to take a walk around the block so you can see what type of neighborhood you’ll potentially be living in. Take notice of the families that live in your area, local infrastructures like parks, playgrounds, trails, and other items of particular interest to you. For example, does your neighborhood have speed bumps to slow traffic or signs for children at play? What you observe on your walk around the neighborhood can tell you a lot about the people who live there and the local municipalities. 

5. Take a drive through the area during key times

Much like your commute to work, drive around the area during a few key times. You’ll want to know what local traffic during rush hour is like for your work commute, but also take a drive on a weeknight evening. What do you notice? Are the streets well-lit? Do you feel safe? Are there still people out and about? Take note of what you find and consider if that impacts your decision to live in that neighborhood. 

Purchase your dream home in Central PA

If you’re still searching for your dream home in the Central PA area, the Matt Weaver Team is here to help. We can assist you with finding the ideal home in the perfect neighborhood that checks all of the boxes for you and your family. Connect with us today to get started

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