House Hunting

When you begin house hunting, take the time to find out as much as you can about the areas you are interested in, unless you are only investing it not as your own home soon. Nearly every city places has neighborhoods on the upward swing that promise increased home values in the near future. Here are some signs of a growing neighborhood:

• An increasing number of homes are being sold to people from other areas of the city or from out of town.
• New and existing homeowners in the neighborhood are investing in home remodeling and renovations.
• The majority of homes are owner-occupied, not rented. The neighborhood has an active community association.
• Transportation projects such as new roads, bridges, mass transit are under way to improve access to the area.

Don’t rely solely on the commute times given by neighbors you talk to on the street or the owners of particular home you are looking at. Make the actual commute from the neighborhood to your place of work, and back again during rush hour to find out how long it is really going to take.