How to Pick the Right Neighborhood for Your New Home

Apr 17, 2019

One of the most important parts of purchasing a move-in ready home or building a custom home from scratch is deciding which neighborhood is right for you. There are a lot of things to think about such as price, location, and amenities. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of natural and man-made features to consider when selecting a neighborhood.

Natural Elements to Consider

Geographic Proximity

Every city is composed of a micro market of smaller communities and neighborhoods. When selecting a neighborhood, it’s important to consider how easily you can access major roadways and area amenities. Think about how long of a commute you’re willing to make to get to work, the location of the nearest grocery stores, and which school district you’d like your family to be in. Another thing to consider in terms of location is how likely it is you’ll hear noise from roadways and airports, as well as the neighborhood’s location to industrial areas.

Trees, Vistas, and Water

The more natural elements the neighborhood has, the less man-made amenities it will have. For example, a heavily wooded area will have less open fields because developers are likely to keep as many of the trees as possible. This is often due to a conversation easement put in place to preserve the integrity of area trees or wetlands. Likewise, the natural terrain of the neighborhood may mean less useable yard space because of changes in elevation.

When it comes to cost, location can also make a big difference. Waterfront properties are one of the most desired locations for homeowners. Because they’re so desired, these homes and lots frequently cost more.

Man-Made Elements to Consider

Master Planned Neighborhoods

Master planned neighborhoods are typically composed of many smaller neighborhoods that fall under one amenity package. These neighborhoods usually have private amenities that can only be accessed by members of the community. They often include a pool, clubhouse, playgrounds, and walking trails. Waterfront communities may even include access to a private marina. If a neighborhood has these amenities, it’s likely they will be managed by an association and there will be a monthly fee.

Trail Systems

These days, many municipal planning commissions are working interconnected running, walking, and biking trails into community plans. When selecting a new neighborhood, ask the neighborhood’s municipal committee to provide a map of the current trails and any that will be built in the future. That way, you can see how they interact with your chosen home/homesite.

Parks and Recreation Areas

Most new neighborhoods will include parks, open space, and recreation areas in their plans. While they may not exist right away, it is likely part of the neighborhood has been set aside to build them in the near future. For parks and recreation areas that already exist, it’s not uncommon for them to be improved as more homes are built in the neighborhood. Most of the time, the park department will even ask for input from homeowners when finalizing plans.

Regency Homes currently builds in a variety of communities throughout the Omaha area. To see a full list, please click here. If you’d like to learn more about our communities, available homesites, or move-in ready homes, please contact our team. We’ll be happy to assist you.