Finding Phoenix Neighborhoods: Find me THAT neighborhood...

Friday, February 22, 2008

Find me THAT neighborhood...

Recently a client came to me with a specific request. She and her husband are ready to move to THAT home. The one where they want to really put down roots, raise their four children, and not leave for a long, long time. Of course there are requirements for the house: a certain number of rooms, bathrooms, etc. But what really matters to them is the neighborhood. That is what will make or break the sale.

This is a pretty common concept. Many of us get to the point sometime after our first home, where the rush of owning our own space has passed, we have a kid or two in school and we've already spent too much time in the mini-van/suburban, and we're ready to find our own little nirvana.

Common characteristics of family nirvana include:

a great school within walking distance
5 minutes to groceries, bank, etc.
15 minutes to major shopping such as Target, Costco, etc.
15 minutes or less to a major freeway
yet far enough away from it all to feel safe and secure in your own neighborhood
Most importantly, lots of other families around. You don't want your kids to be the only ones playing basketball out front or riding their bikes in the cul-de-sac.

By now you're probably thinking, 'Yes Elena! Find me that! Oh, and a house I can afford" That's the tricky part isn't it?

I suggest we start with a town. Find one with the largest number of highly rated schools (in AZ that equates to "Excelling and Highly Performing" ratings), then check the crime rates. Then we find the neighborhoods within walking distance to the schools, check for shopping distances, and you've got yourself a neighborhood. Now, let's find your house.

Labels: family friendly neighborhoods, family real estate

Elena Thurston, Family Realtor @ 8:42 AM
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