When you’re buying a home, you’re not just buying the house itself. You’re also buying the neighborhood. The community you live in has a big impact on both your quality of life and the value of your home. That’s why it’s important to choose a home with great neighborhood amenities — even if you don’t plan on using all of them. These are the neighborhood amenities you should look for when buying a home.

Schools

Regardless of whether or not you have school-age children, you should consider the quality of the nearby schools when you’re buying a home. Good schools have a positive effect on home values. They also tend to be in neighborhoods with high community engagement.

Parks and green spaces

Another neighborhood amenity that you should look for are parks and green spaces. These are great places for kids to play, to engage in exercise, and to experience nature. They’ve become especially important since the pandemic began, giving people a chance to safely get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air.

Markets

Being close to the grocery store is another amenity that you should consider when buying a home. Unless you regularly have your groceries delivered, going to the market is something you’ll probably do at least once a week. Having access to quality food nearby is a desirable perk for most homeowners and can affect your home value.

Fitness centers

Are there places to exercise near the home you want to buy? If fitness is important to you, then you’ll want to check out the local gyms, especially if you don’t want to exercise outside. Being close to a state-of-the-art gym can be attractive to many buyers down the line when it’s time for you to sell.

Transportation

How easy is it to get to the home? You’ll want to look at how close the house is to major roads. For many homebuyers, easy access to the freeway is very important. You’ll also want to consider public transportation options that are nearby. Is the home close to bus routes or subway stations? And don’t forget about airports. If you get the itch to travel, then you’ll want to be within a reasonable distance from a commercial airport.

Nightlife

Do you like to get out of the house at night and mingle? Then take a look at how close the home is to bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Knowing that you can easily walk or take a rideshare to local hotspots can be favorable to many buyers.

Cultural attractions

In addition to nightlife, what kinds of cultural attractions are nearby? Having access to world-class destinations can be exciting for many homeowners, and provides endless opportunities for recreation. Research what museums, aquariums, amusement parks, theaters, and other venues are nearby when you’re buying a home.

HOA perks

Finally, if you’re looking at a home or condo that’s part of a homeowners association (HOA), find out what kind of perks that you’ll have access to. This could include a community pool, playground, golf course, or clubhouse. Just remember that you’ll be paying monthly dues when you live in this kind of planned community in order to access these perks.

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