Finding Better Homes For Sale
The urban core neighborhoods are full of apartments, single family residences, historic housing, modern townhouses, warehouse lofts and condos. It is hard to say who your neighbors might be. They could be single young professionals, seniors, low income families, middle class families, rich tycoons and college students.
Affordable housing, nearby amenities and an eclectic mix of housing styles are some perks of looking at homes for sale downtown. However, the lack of parking, crime rates and transients may keep you away. Yet whether you are looking at Houston real estate or Atlanta real estate, you will find a certain charm to metro living.
Once you make your list, hop in the car and take a look around the area for the homes for sale. What are your first impressions? Are the lawns well-kept? Are there shops and restaurants you would like to visit? Can you see yourself walking your dog around the block or stopping for a cup of coffee and a newspaper at the corner bistro? Be sure to peruse the area at night too.
Are the streets well-lit? Are undesirables hanging out on the corners? Is there copious noise coming from homes at night? Look out for other warning signs like abandoned properties, blocks of foreclosures or vandalism. You will also want to note whether or not there are loud sounds from trains, planes, highway traffic, ambulances, fire-trucks or bars.
Once upon a time, the urban core was the last place to browse homes for sale. Bob Eychner, a Greenwich Village, NYC real estate agent, recalled, “There was a banner up that read, ‘Hookers and johns beware! We are taking your license plate numbers.’ So I trumpeted the strong neighborhood watch system.”
Today, the West Village attracts people with its historical landmarks, quaint architecture and diminished crime rates. “It’s charming,” says area resident Toni Kamins. “It’s sort of got a small-town feel within Manhattan. It was, at one point, a lot quieter than other parts of the city.” In big cities across the country, similar renaissances are taking place as little enclaves of the city become cultural havens.
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