Moving
to Hawaii - Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
The neighborhood you choose can have a big
impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities,
and convenience all play their part.
Make a list of the activities - movies, health
club, church - you engage in regularly and stores you visit
frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each
neighborhood you're considering to engaging in your most common
activities.
Check out the school district. The Department
of Education in your town can probably provide information
on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend
college, and special enrichment programs.
If you have school-age children, also consider
paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you're considering.
Even if you don't have children, a house in a good school
district will be easier to sell in the future.
Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask
the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider
not only the number of crimes but also the type - burglaries,
armed robberies - and the trend of increasing or decreasing
crime.
Determine if the neighborhood is economically
stable. Check with your local city economic development office
to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are
stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments?
Apartments don't necessarily diminish value, but they do mean
a more transient population.
See for yourself. Once you've narrowed your
focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around.
Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick
a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing
outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with
your family?
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