One of the many joys of shopping for a new place is getting to know a little about the community that you’ll soon call home. After all, when you buy a house, you’re not just becoming a homeowner; you’re also becoming a member of a community. This means that as comfortable as you want you and your family to be in your new home and your own back yard, it’s just as important to be equally comfortable in your neighborhood and in the community at large.
What makes a community a good place to live? What are the qualities of a good neighborhood that new home shoppers should be looking for? Let’s face it; not all neighborhoods are created equal. This is especially true if you are shopping for a home outside of a master-planned community where the development has been carefully constructed with the needs of residents in mind. A community is more than just a collection of houses and streets. It’s made up of the people who live there, the places where they send their kids to school, the stores where they shop, the businesses where they work, their places of worship, and the amenities and greenspaces they enjoy every day.
With all that in mind, different people are looking for different things when they shop for a home. Just as one family might prioritize a spacious kitchen or a three-car garage, another might be after a big backyard. The same is true for communities. Yet, there are certain qualities that all good neighborhoods share. While no two communities are ever exactly alike, if you keep an eye out for these eight things, you’ll be well on your way to finding the community that’s right for you and your family.
Eight Qualities of a Good Neighborhood
1. It’s Suited to Your Lifestyle. In some ways, this may be the most important one. Choosing the right community is a lot like choosing the right home. Above all else, it needs to be a place where you and your family will feel comfortable. If you spend a lot of time out on the town, you’ll want to choose a community near plenty of bars and restaurants. If you enjoy the great outdoors every chance you get, you’ll want to choose a place with lots of green space and opportunities for walking, biking, and hiking. Whatever you love to do, make sure that you find a community that fits the lifestyle of you and your whole family.
2. It’s Family-Friendly. If you have kids, it obviously makes sense to move someplace where other children live. These communities are more likely to be safe and comfortable for your kids, giving them opportunities to play and make new friends. Family-friendly communities also offer more options for programs and amenities that are aimed at children, as well as good schools and daycare options nearby. Even if you don’t have kids, though, the slower traffic and quieter neighborhoods that family-friendly communities often boast can be a big draw.
3. There are On-Site Amenities. Having amenities right where you live does more than just improve your quality of life. It also helps to build stronger communities. Amenities such as fitness centers, playgrounds, or resort-style swimming pools are all common in master-planned communities, and they all serve as places where friends and neighbors can meet up or where you might run into someone you know from the neighborhood. This chance to interact with the people around you helps to build relationships and strengthen community bonds and makes the whole place feel more like a welcoming place to call home.
4. The Crime Rate is Low. It probably goes without saying that a neighborhood with a lower crime rate is going to feel safer and more comfortable. You’ll be more at ease taking an after-dinner walk or letting your kids out to play. Fortunately, you can check out crime statistics for your future neighborhood online. Don’t let a list of statistics be all that guides you, though. Visit the neighborhood yourself and be sure that you feel comfortable and happy there.
5. There are Great Schools Nearby. Again, if you’re a parent, the value of having fantastic schools close to your new home is obvious. Even if you aren’t, quality schools have an enormous impact on property values. What’s more, good schools simply help to build good neighborhoods full of people who care about where they live and work to take care of it.
6. The Walkability is Good. Whether you take a constitutional every morning or just need to get out and get some fresh air now and then, having a neighborhood that’s easy to get around in—even without your car—will go a long way toward making you feel at home there. Whether it’s walking down to a corner store or just taking a walk to enjoy the weather, you’ll know and love your neighborhood more when you see it from your feet, rather than just through a car window.
7. The Commute is Short. This doesn’t just mean a short distance, either. Pay attention to traffic patterns. Even if you don’t have to go very far, you may still spend a lot of time sitting in your car if the road is clogged during rush hour. It isn’t just about commuting to work, either. You’ll want to be close to the other things you do every day: shopping, restaurants, grocery stores, you name it. If it’s something you do frequently, make sure it doesn’t take you too long to get there.
8. There Are Lots of Trees and Greenspace. Whether you’re a certified nature enthusiast or are more comfortable on your couch, having easy access to the out-of-doors is good for your mood, your health, and your sense of satisfaction with your life. Having plenty of green space around encourages you to get out and stay active, and all of those trees clean the air and make everything look so much better!
Looking for a truly great neighborhood? Mantua has it all! Our Trail House Welcome Center introduces you to your new home in our master-planned community close to Dallas and DFW. Mantua is near good schools and filled with homes built by some of the best home builders in the nation. Our amenities include a resort-style pool, the Veranda Community Center, plenty of hike and bike trails that let you get back to nature, playgrounds, a splash zone for the kids, and much more. There’s always something to do at Mantua!
We’re even planning a tree farm that will be home to 11,000 trees ready to be admired and adored by residents for years to come. With an unhurried, small-town atmosphere surrounded by the beauty of the Texas landscape and the conveniences of nearby cities, Mantua is the perfect place to call home.
What makes a community a good place to live? If it’s something that makes a house feel like a home, that makes neighbors feel like friends, and that makes a group of houses, roads, and amenities feel like a true community, then you’ll find it at Mantua. Prices for our first phase of homes range from the $300s to the $500s.
