Practical Questions to Ask When Choosing a New Neighborhood
There’s a common real estate maxim for buying property, Location, location, location. But choosing a new neighborhood is more than living in a popular area, and great schools matter less once your kids are out of school. Even within hot areas there are better and worse places to live. It’s easy to be swayed by great restaurants nearby or a beautiful view without thinking of the practicalities of where you live.
I’ve lived all over the world and these are the questions about location that I try to consider when choosing a place to live.
1. Where Will You Buy Toilet Paper?
Let’s say you’re sick and run out of toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, or aspirin. Where do you go? Every place I’ve lived in Chicago has been within two blocks of a store with evening hours. My last two homes had a mom and pop convenience store on the corner. Do I shop at these places often? No, but I’m super grateful to have them when I need them and I’m happy to help support a family that’s trying to get ahead.
2. What Hospital Do Ambulances Go To?
I know a couple that bought a gorgeous lakefront condo only to discover that if they dialed 911 for an ambulance, they would be brought to the neighborhood hospital which didn’t have the greatest reputation. The wife of this couple had already suffered one heart attack before the move and had other health issues. Her usual doctors were located at a hospital several miles away out of her ambulance range. They put their condo on the market.
Can you get the best healthcare soon enough?
When my dad had a massive stroke, the small-town hospital the ambulance took him to spent a valuable hour deciding they couldn’t treat him and calling in a Medevac helicopter to transport him to a regional hospital.
These minutes made a huge difference on the outcome and cost.
If you or someone in your household has chronic health issues, consider the emergency options in the area where you plan to buy. It’s not just about where to schedule an appointment in an emergency when every minute counts. 60% of trauma deaths occur in rural areas despite the fact that only 20% of American live in rural areas. So, yes, live your dream in the country, but choose your location very, very carefully.
3. How Far Is a Good Medical Clinic?
This one is more for people who wish to live in the country. I love watching The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes and other real estate shows, but in the back of my mind I’m always thinking, “Gee, what if they cut themselves while making dinner?”
That home with the sweeping mountaintop views is great if you’re perfectly healthy, but a real bear if you’re not, especially if your nearest neighbor is miles away. You don’t want to have to drive icy roads with a sprained ankle, or take a car ferry to get your prescription filled for an infection. 
If we really want to think long term, consider what life would be like if you could no longer drive? In the city, some medical centers run regular buses to areas with lots of seniors. In a more rural area, your options might be more limited when choosing a place to live. Access to healthcare should be top of your list when choosing a new neighborhood.
4. How Good Are the Grocery Stores?
My city has several grocery-store chains to choose from and people get pretty excited about the grocery store that has a wine bar inside it. Yet in real life only one person I know drinks in a supermarket. I cook most of my own meals from scratch and avoid processed foods, so I look for smaller chains that cater to immigrant communities. Let me tell you, immigrants can be pretty picky about their vegetables and meat because they often come from places where they bought directly from the producer. When I lived in Ecuador, there was a Wednesday/Friday farmers market one block away…and I lived in a middle-class neighborhood. I remember buying six artichokes for a dollar. Talk about farm to table.
Is there a healthy selection of foods?
My last home in Chicago was close to Latino grocers and Cermak Fresh Markets where I occasionally bought the cherimoyas I enjoyed in Ecuador. Currently, I’m very close to markets that cater to Indian, Pakistani, and Eastern European cooks. All of these places have a wider variety of fruits and vegetables than huge chain grocery stores. And the prices are much, much cheaper. In addition, European and Latino markets often have excellent butchers, huge delis, and the hard-to-find ethnic foods needed for my adventures in cooking.
Is the food more expensive?
Big box stores and a major grocery store chain are within half a mile so I can easily pick up staples like sugar and oatmeal at a good price. People don’t go hungry for lack of access in this neighborhood.
So. If you find a lovely home that only has the fancy chains nearby, expect to spend more on food. If a bargain home is far from decent groceries, expect to eat more frozen or canned goods. Ask yourself whether food cost or poor selection might affect your overall health if you choose to live there.
Will you be cooking more often if you live here?
Those of you who plan to move from an urban environment to a quieter rural location should consider your dining options and whether the local grocery stores stock the foods you need to make more diverse fare at home. Back in my home town there are no sushi restaurants within 30 miles, Even Chinese food is uncommon. In the grocery stores, tahini is hard to find and I make hummus from scratch. Just saying.
5. Are There Sidewalks and Where Do They Lead?
As a kid, I lived five miles outside of a very small Midwestern town. Sidewalks? No. But it didn’t really matter on back roads where cars passed by about once every 10-20 minutes. That’s where I developed my love for taking long walks.
I know people who live in suburban areas where houses are nice, but sidewalks are rare. Walkers can go to the end of the cul-de-sac, turn around, and go home. That’s it. There’s no grid to take you the next street over, which makes walks pretty boring, very short, and highly unlikely. 
I’m super, super fortunate to live in a city with many large parks. There’s a bike and walking path several miles long within blocks of where I live, which means I have no excuse not to get some exercise.
Where will you walk the dog?
Sidewalks are especially important for dog owners. If you take Fido out for his evening business, do you want to be where traffic could veer into your path?
For city dwellers, look for sidewalks that are in good repair. And think about how safe you feel on those streets in the early evening when you’re coming home from work.
Think about aging. Choose a location that will encourage you to stay active without having to fork out gym fees. If you can buy toilet paper on your walk or bike to a health clinic, even better.
Can you handle hills?
A friend of mine is in her eighties and uses a walker because she has MS. Decades before her diagnosis, she and her husband bought a hilltop home. To reduce the symptoms of MS, she treks around the circular road in her neighborhood every evening. It’s steep going down and steep coming up. She does it, but not everyone is as intrepid as she is. Fortunately, she doesn’t live in a place that gets icy in winter.
6. How Will This Move Affect Your Social Life?
This if for the people who like to mingle. Will this home’s location affect your social life?
You might think, “Oh we’re only 35 minutes from (Whoever), we can manage that. Maybe. But will Whoever feel the same way? If they have friends closer to home, you might get phased out.
The first time I saw the first house I bought, I remember thinking, “What kind of neighborhood is this?” It was in a vague no-man’s land between other well-known neighborhoods. Still, public transportation was decent and it wasn’t too far from the expressway so I thought my suburban friends would have an easier time finding me in my new neighborhood.
How is the street parking?
I had big plans for backyard cookouts in summer and game nights in winter, but I ended up having company less often than when I was a renter. This was because the house was on a busy street where parking was tight. Because friends were unfamiliar with the area, they were uncomfortable walking to the bus stop or to pick up their cars after a late dinner party.
You can bet that available street parking factored into my next home purchase. I have way more visitors now and some even ride the nearby bike trail to get here! But life is a compromise and poor public transportation makes it harder to host my younger, car-less friends. 
Where is your tribe?
People who attend worship services might consider how far they would be from their current religious congregation. Visit temples and churches near the home to get a feel for how comfortable you feel in new congregations. If your social circle is heavily dependent on who you worship with, this could be a big factor in deciding on a new location.
On the flip side, will the move make it easier for you to see friends and family? If so, ask yourself if the family member wants to see you as much as you see them. Don’t assume that your grown children are going to pop in more often. We all have busy lives. Or if you want to be closer to your parents, consider whether they will be making a move in the next few years.
7. Are there Transportation Options?
Americans love their cars. Still, life happens so having transportation options is a good idea. If you work, is there a suburban commuter train? How much is daytime parking near the station? Can you do your favorite things or get to work if your car breaks down? For rural locations, will you be able to function well if you lose your ability to drive?
Will you be limited if you can’t drive a car?
Many communities offer transportation services for the elderly who can no longer drive. Look into these if you are choosing a new neighborhood to retire to long-term.
Most of my life, I did not own a car so good public transportation was a necessity. Seattle was a terrible place to rely on public transportation after rush hour. My wake-up call came when a friend was driving me home from a party and said, “Ya know, we’d invite you more often if you had a car.” She was kind enough to help me find one for $100 that was just good enough for socializing and little more. Still, I disliked having so few transportation options at a time when finances were limited. Eventually, this was a big factor for leaving Seattle.
Will you need to buy a car or truck?
The week before I closed on my current condo, I took a bus to the new neighborhood and waited for dark. I discovered that the buses all but disappeared after rush hour and that Uber was slow to arrive. If I didn’t buy a car the day I closed on the condo, I would be very isolated. 
Luckily, I had already planned to purchase a car so I only had to step up the timing. Now that I was driving again, I still had to figure out public transportation options for how to get downtown to see the free concerts that I see twice a week in summer. My compromise is to drive to a transit station and park for free on the side streets.
All vehicles aren’t equal to every location. Pickup trucks are hard to find parking for in the city and might be restricted from taking certain routes. Electric cars might not find charging stations in a small town. Little bitty cars might not handle steep mountain roads. Do you need to factor in a vehicle purchase for that home? I did.
8. Where Is the Nearest Movie Theater?
I like movies. Even when I was broke, I treated myself to a movie once a week because as nights out go, it was cheaper than dining out or seeing a play. If I had to add the cost of public transportation or parking, the cost nearly doubled. Consequently, I tend to live near movie theaters.
It doesn’t have to be movies. If you golf, do yoga, swim, or go fishing—consider the added cost of time and transportation when choosing a home location.
In Conclusion
No location is perfect, but be sure to consider practicalities when choosing where to live. To sum it up here are eight things to consider about a location you are moving to:
1.Where will I buy toilet paper?
You need a place to pick up essentials when you’re in a bind.
2. What hospital will an ambulance take me to?
There are times when every minute matters. The local hospital should be able to care for your current health issues and more.
3. How far is a good medical clinic?
If you have children or are getting older, access to decent healthcare becomes very important.
4. How good are the local grocery stores?
If selection is limited or cost is high a simple thing like grocery stores could affect your health.
5. Are there sidewalks and where do they lead?
Build in fitness and have a safe place to walk the dog.
6. How will this location affect my social life?
Friends and family might find the location inconvenient and visit less often.
7. What transportation options are available if I can’t drive?
Life happens. Be sure you could function well if you suddenly lost your car.
8. Where is the movie theater or other entertainment options?
Even homebodies need to get out once in a while to live a satisfying life.
What questions do you ask when you are looking for a new neighborhood? 
