Trust us when we say you’ll want to think this through.
t’s true whether you’re committing to a 30-year mortgage or a year-long lease: you can update your surroundings with a renovation or removable wallpaper, but you can’t change your neighborhood or location. So how do you make sure you don’t overlook the importance of a place when buying or renting your next home?
Below, we outline five key questions to ask yourself when deciding where to live, plus search tips tailored to finding a home to rent or buy that meets your lifestyle needs.
How to decide where to live: Take an inventory of your current neighborhood
Choice overload is real, and it can lead to buyer’s or renter’s remorse, so narrow down your criteria with a simple exercise. Take a minute to think about your current neighborhood, then start a pros-and-cons list.
Once you’ve determined what you like about where you live now, and listed what you don’t like about it, start a third list. This one will detail what you want in a new neighborhood.
Then combine the first and third lists (what you like about your neighborhood + what you would like in your new neighborhood). The result is a list of priorities; now consider ranking them.
Keeping an open mind, decide what you can and can’t live without. Because a neighborhood that checks all your boxes will likely be more expensive, prioritizing your criteria ahead of time can make the selection process easier — especially if you’re moving into a competitive market. Lastly, hold onto that second list (the one where you ticked off what you don’t like about your current area). It’ll come in handy for spotting red flags early in the selection process.
Everyone’s lists will vary, but read on for five major considerations you’ll surely want to include.
1. How walkable is it?
Walkability is a big lifestyle decision. Over 40% of renters live in an urban setting, and homebuyers regularly report walkability as an important factor in deciding where to live.
Ask yourself how much driving you want to do and whether you really want to own a car. Owning a car opens your options to suburbs and rural areas, but you’ll want to weigh the costs of car ownership when deciding where to rent or purchase.
Conversely, choosing an area with high walkability and alternative transportation options, like rideshare services or public transportation, may allow you to minimize or forgo car expenses, like gas, insurance and depreciation. With that extra money in your budget, you may be able to afford a larger home. Going without a car means you’ll want to focus on urban centers and downtown areas, which tend to feature better transportation options and walk scores.
But there’s more to consider in walkability than whether or not necessities are within walking distance. To name a few:
How far is public transportation? When it’s something you’ll be doing on a regular basis, a three-minute walk to the bus stop is very different from a 20-minute walk.
Is the area designed for walking? Are there sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly crosswalks, or will you be walking to the grocery store along a busy street with no shoulder?
What are the alternative transportation options? Are rideshare services and carpooling options available? Cities large and small are increasingly allowing micromobility services. What does this look like in the areas you’re considering?
What’s in the surrounding area? Are you close to grocery stores and medical facilities, or a bingo hall and a stretch of fast food joints?
Your main question here: Is what’s nearby complimentary to my lifestyle? A Walk Score is a starting place, but a little research will help ensure that you can truly walk to what you need and want. Tip: All Zillow listings feature a Walk Score, Transit Score and Bike Score in the Neighborhood section.
2. What will the commute look like if you have one?
While walkability to grocery stores and other staples is one factor, your proximity to work or school may be a separate consideration. Ask yourself; How close is the neighborhood to a location you’ll regularly commute to?
You can quickly estimate drive times from any listing in Zillow or with your chosen map app, but the true test is to actually try the commute. If possible, try it with no traffic and in rush-hour conditions. Then ask yourself: Is this sustainable?
Tip: All Zillow listings offer a Travel Time function, which calculates drive times for a location during rush hour and no-traffic scenarios. Try it in the Overview section of any listing.
3. Is there any green space?
What does your prospective neighborhood offer in terms of nature? Studies increasingly indicate that exposure to nature and green spaces brings health benefits. What’s more, recent research suggests that the availability of accessible and usable green spaces is “significantly associated with neighborhood satisfaction.” Further, if you have canine friends or plan on getting some, nearby parks are indispensable.
Tip: Green areas on a Zillow listing’s map represent parks. Dog parks are also marked on Zillow’s maps.
4. What’s the proximity to friends and family?
Social connections can help us go far, and renters and home buyers need to consider how important being close to family and/or friends is when they decide where to live.
Research suggests that even the mere sense of social connectedness can enhance “achievement motivation” — the will to get things done. In good times and in bad, you’ll be thankful you chose a place that’s near your loved ones and dear friends.
5. Do you feel a sense of community?
Beyond friends and family, community is, of course, another way to find social connectedness. This includes those who live on your street or apartment building.
Think about questions such as:
- Is there access to nearby groups or activities that align with your interests?
- Is there a homeowner association? Or a management team that sponsors events and mixers in your apartment complex?
- Are there amenities that encourage social interaction, such as an arthouse theater, multiplex, recreation center or library?
- Are there common areas in your rental or apartment complex that might make it easier to meet others, such as dog parks or playrooms to meet fellow dog owners or parents?
Visit or stay in your prospective neighborhood before you commit
You’ve found a neighborhood you like and perused the forums and social media groups to ask questions about the community or building. You’ve searched for what’s important to you, be it access to arts and culture or proximity to great restaurants. That’s a great start, but online research will only reveal so much when deciding where to live.
Now it’s time to visit. If it’s feasible, just go there. Really check out your prospective neighborhood. Talk to that couple walking their dog. Get a coffee at the local café and chat up the barista. Think about that sense of community. Do you feel it here?
Don’t forget to see what the area is like at different times of the day and week. Think of it like a stakeout or a test drive. Is there early morning construction or rush-hour traffic noise? Do neighbors like to party late into the night?
Still can’t decide where to live? Consider grabbing a short-term rental in one or more neighborhoods as a way to test out different lifestyles. Maybe you’re not sure if you want to live in the urban heart of the city, but you think you might love it. Find out what is it actually like to live above a restaurant or on that quiet farm road you always dreamed about. Renting gives you a chance to figure out what you like and dislike in neighborhoods, sample a diversity of experiences and learn more about yourself, so that when you’re ready to commit, you’re more informed.
Whether you’re buying or renting, it’s worth doing the hands-on research upfront. Take some time and visualize yourself there. Is this place actually a fit?