Finding the perfect home is not just about what the home looks like and how many bedrooms it features; of course, these are important factors but then so too is the location. If the location isn’t right for you, the house will never feel like home, no matter what improvements you make to it. Finding the perfect location for your next home will be easy for some buyers but an uphill struggle for others – some neighborhoods will have more appeal and it comes down to personal preferences and needs.
Finding neighborhoods close to top schools will be important for families, while a semi-retired couple may be looking for easy access to the golf course. If you’re unsure where you would like to live read on for my suggestions and tips for finding top areas and neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Make A List of What’s Important To You
My first tip is to make a list of what’s important to you. You should already have a list of what you’re looking for in a home, but what about the location? Do you want to be close to shopping and recreation, near the beach or with an ocean view, do you need close proximity to schools, and are you worried about crime and safety? How about restaurants and health care?
Research the Neighborhoods
With my knowledge and experience of the many different neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange counties I am always happy to offer my advice and thoughts on localities you may be considering. What I would also recommend is that you do a little background research yourself, and there’s an excellent website you can use to check out some of the neighborhoods you may be considering. AreaVibes.com gives you a breakdown of areas and neighborhoods by giving a score to different aspects including employment, weather, education, crime, amenities and cost of living. You can check their website to see how different neighborhoods rank against others.
For example, the Naples-Marina Area – one of my personal favorites – is ranked number 1 in Long Beach for “Livability”. It has low crime rates, high graduation rates, a stable housing market and lots of local amenities, making this a great place to consider calling home. Another personal favorite of mine is Park Estates and this neighborhood is ranked number 2 in Long Beach. It’s a little farther from the ocean but you have Recreation Park right on the doorstep as well as California State University Long Beach and Woodrow Wilson Classical High School.
The AreaVibes website breaks down the numbers and shows you how many crimes were committed, the median housing value, price of gasoline, employment figures and more, so it really is a very useful resource to check out when making a shortlist of your top areas and neighborhoods.
