With the abundance of community options available all over Greater Phoenix, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of decisions when searching for your next dream home. Aside from the look of the home, the number of bedrooms and baths, the actual area of Phoenix you want to be in, and the oh-so-important cost – how do you decide on the perfect community?
Often times, homeowners look at all the elements of the individual home first with the questions about the community being an afterthought. But isn’t that one of the most important parts of the home shopping process?
Don’t get overwhelmed with the many choices in Greater Phoenix. All of us at Award Realty are here to help you find not only the home of your dreams, but the community that you can’t wait to drive into.
Will you meet like-minded people?
It’s important to understand if the community is one that is conducive to the lifestyle you’re after. Let’s say you’re 55+ and would like to be surrounded by those also enjoying the life of a retiree. Communities designed to suit your lifestyle will likely be full of people that enjoy doing the same things as you. For instance, 55+ communities typically have dozens (sometimes, hundreds) of social clubs for those wanting to stay busy during retirement.
Are your activity requirements met?
Are you an avid golfer? Do you have a mean back-handed tennis swing? Will your kids or grandkids beg for access to a community pool? Determine the “non-negotiables” when it comes to the sports and activities that will be available to you at your community. If you know being a short drive or walk away from a championship golf course is on the “must have” list, don’t even bother looking at neighborhoods that don’t accommodate that need.
What about the surrounding area?
If you love restaurants, culture, and entertainment, Phoenix never disappoints. But if you know that regular trips out for live entertainment and cocktails will be on the agenda, you may want to stay close to the action so you don’t have to worry about those late evening Uber rides home.
Always keep in mind the proximity of a local grocery store, the nearest restaurants, or access to the city’s sporting or cultural hubs if you know that’s how you’ll spend most of your evenings or weekends.
Can you talk to a friend or neighbor?
Sometimes the best way to get the skinny on a local neighborhood, aside from your agent at Award Realty, is to talk to the neighbors. Do you have any friends or friends of friends that live in your community of choice? Pick their brain on the pros and cons of calling that particular community home. If you do end up deciding to live there you know you’ll have a few neighbors to invite to that house-warming party.
Having a real estate agent that knows the ins and outs of Greater Phoenix’s most desirable communities will not only give you a leg up on your home search, but it will allow you to save that valuable time you could be spending on the links of the golf course or laying by the pool instead of looking at homes that ultimately won’t work for you.
