Every other year, the Census Bureau conducts the American Housing Survey. The most recent study finds that the two most popular reasons for choosing a certain neighborhood are how it’s laid out and its proximity to work.

What about you? What are your hot buttons? It helps both of us if you’re clear on what type of area best suits your lifestyle. This part of the process requires both soul-searching and sleuthing.

Here are a few considerations to help you create your neighborhood wish list:

• Are good schools or proximity to schools a priority?

• Is living closer to work important to you?

• Do you need a walkable neighborhood located within walking distance to shopping and other conveniences?

• Do you prefer a lively family-type neighborhood or a more sedate, private environment?

• What don’t you like about where you currently live?

That last question is especially good when you’re stuck for ideas. Sometimes knowing what you don’t want in a neighborhood is just as important as knowing what you do want.

When you share your wish lists with me, I can help you narrow down the vast array of home and neighborhood choices available. Here’s how we’ll find your perfect home and neighborhood:

• Home prices: It doesn’t do you any good to look at homes that are out of your price range, so I’ll only show you homes you can afford.
• Crime statistics: Legally, I am not allowed to speak to whether a certain area has high or low crime. I will, however, point out where you can find this information, should this be a concern.
• Outdoor amenities: If these are important to you, we’ll shop in areas with parks, trails and the like.
• School information: Although schools are important to parents, they typically don’t top the list of what is important to them in a neighborhood. If you have school-aged children, do you need to live within walking distance to their school? Will they need to take the bus?

One Final Step

Take a drive through neighborhood at different times during the day and night. The ideal times for these recognizance trips are after school lets out in the afternoon and on weekend days and nights. Don’t hesitate to get out and walk and speak with any neighbors you see.

Searching for the perfect neighborhood is akin to Google Earth. If you’ve ever used the online search application you know that you can draw back from an area by zooming out and then gradually zoom in, until you find the ideal neighborhood. That’s when we jump in the car and go find you that dream house.