Last year we had to decide where we wanted to live when my husband got stationed in Texas. We normally always lived on base, but this time we opted to live off base. We found a realtor, and started the process of looking for a home. We gave our realtor some things we were looking for (safe neighborhood, good schools, two-story..) and he went to work finding places that fit our criteria.
We looked at several houses, and I discovered that some people didn't always have their homes ready for a viewing. (One home had closets crammed with stuff..)
We also learned many lessons when searching for a home. It took a while, but we finally found one we loved. We also were fans of the neighborhood, and here's why:
1. There's a neighborhood watch. This makes me feel slightly safer. Obviously this won't completely ward off the bad guys, but it can help.
2. The sidewalks are huge! I cannot stand tiny sidewalks. I jog, so I like to be able to pass a person without going into the street.
3. People will help each other out. I'm part of the Facebook neighborhood page and if someone has a family emergency, people band together to make it easier.
4. There's a pool. We're in Texas, so we need a place to cool off.
5. It looks welcoming. Seriously, thanks to a HOA, everything looks put together.
6. There's a bunch of restaurants nearby when I don't feel like cooking. This happens quite often, I won't lie.
7. My favorite store is about 10 minutes away. That would be Target. Seriously, one thing on my list of finding the perfect house to my realtor was that there had to be a Target nearby.
I hope we can stay here for many years, but it depends if the military cooperates.
What do you love about your neighborhood? Did you have a realtor?
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That's awesome!! I especially love that it has a pool for the kids to enjoy. I totally miss living in a neighborhood some days. Where we live now is cool and different, but man I miss our yard!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great neighborhood! I'm all about sidewalks I can actually walk on.
ReplyDeleteWe are a military family (although retired) but still living abroad. I love it but miss my neighbors at home!
ReplyDeleteI was shifting my places due to my jobs. It's been 11 years. Now, I really feel like having my own home and place. Your post reminded me that I shouldn't delay it any further.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great neighborhood - a beautiful place to stay!
ReplyDeleteHaving a great neighborhood is so important when searching for a new home. A neighborhood pool is a bonus. Looks like you've found the perfect place for your family to call home.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the blessings I don't have. Mine is loud and obnoxious and not really helpful.
ReplyDeleteSuch great qualities to have in a neighborhood! Good luck getting the military to let you stay there for awhile, they can be random and finicky!
ReplyDeleteYour neighborhood looks amazing! Much better than my neighborhood for sure. We need a pool haha!
ReplyDeleteYour neighborhood has many aspects to love! Having neighbors who band together and help each other out is priceless in my opinion. I do love our neighborhood as well, which I think is a really important part of being happy where you live.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great neighborhood. I love our neighborhood too. It's close enough to everything to be convenient, but not so close that we have an issue with traffic. And our neighbor's are so nice!
ReplyDeleteAww it sounds like you have the most amazing neighbourhood to live in, we moved to a little village last year and I adore it!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an awesome pool. We have awesome nearby pools but they aren't outdoors. We just don't have the heat to bring it!
ReplyDeleteWe used a realtor. Honestly, I love everything about my home and town. I mean sure there are things I would change, but ultimately it's a feel-good place.
Oh, wow. I've never thought about a Facebook neighborhood page. I wonder if my neighborhood has one? I love the fact that you feel like you and your neighbors are in this together, helping each other and making each other feel safer.
ReplyDeleteI am a realtor, so I get to shop whenever I want 😀. My requirements were a big yard for gardening, close to public transit for my wife's easy work commute, and in a good school neighbourhood.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great neighbourhood, I live in a village and love the tearooms and the great school.
ReplyDeleteI love my neighborhood too. The large sidewalks are so convenient and perfect for fmailies wanting to go for a walk. I also like that there are a lot of young kids in the area for my kids to play with.
ReplyDeleteWe sold our home in Illinois and moved to Iowa without knowing anyone there or having anything set up. It was all solely based on research I did to find the best place to raise a family and weirdly enough right after moving here there was a Family Circle magazine in then mailbox that said our town was listed 7 in all of the US as best places to raise a family. It was meant to be :) I hope you continue to enjoy your neighborhood for a long time!
ReplyDeleteI am also very passionate about my neighborhood, that is why I still haven't left! It is so important to be happy and feel safe in your community.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet there is a community Facebook page. A Target only 10 minutes away, that is a good selling point.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have one amazing neighborhood! That feels so nice especially when it comes to kids.
ReplyDeleteLoving the neighborhood is a big perk when buying a home. We moved out to a tiny farm town and ended up with the best neighbors! We love our neighborhood too!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great place to stay! I also love wide sidewalks and pools nearby.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great neighborhood. I love when there's a neighborhood watch, not to mention a pool too!
ReplyDeleteSidewalks are a huge deal for me when we were moving. We move around a lot for work, so I always try to make sure there are places nearby we can enjoy and a good outdoor space for the kids.
ReplyDeleteIf the neighbourhood is great it's easier to live there for sure. I have had some bad luck with neighbours in general but the overall neighbourhood is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIt must be so different from being on base. I am in the UK so so things work slightly differently but we moved into our home 1 year ago and are loving it. Very jealous of the pool!
ReplyDeleteThat is one thing I don't miss about the military, the constant moving. I miss the travels but glad my husband is retired already. Sounds like you found a great place.
ReplyDeleteChubskulit Rose
The hunt for a house sounds crazy! I'm glad you found something you love. I can see where big sidewalks and a pool would be important with kids.
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood is a gate community and I love that. I know my immediate neighbors and a lot of people in the neighborhood. We have the best HOA around, if you want to know what is going on they have the full story with details.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you have a pool in your neighborhood! I remember the Texas heat and it is definitely a HUGE perk, especially with kids.
ReplyDeleteI love that you love your neighborhood! It's great that your neighbors actually look out for one another and take care of their surroundings.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin • Blonde Seeking Ambition
it's great that you love your neighborhood! it's such a great feeling to feel safe and to be near places (favorite stores!) and of course the pool is a winner! Hope you get to stay a while there! My brother's in the Navy and just moved states, so I know it can be tiring along with every other feeling ; )
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have the perfect place for your family. We love our 'hood too. The people are really nice, the esthetic is good. There is a nice little pond with some perfect picture taking opportunities. And it's quiet.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of things that I love about my neighborhood. Glad to know that you're very happy there. I know how it feels, as a veteran, to have to move from one neighborhood to another, and it's sad when you've fallen in love with your home.
ReplyDeleteThese are all great reasons to love your neighborhood. I love my neighborhood because I grow up a block away and I have a little store right across the street from me. The people all look out for each other too. Thanks for sharing the information
ReplyDeleteI love my neighborhood. Have many stores close by I don't have to travel far. We have everything very close. My block is quiet, and love my neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWe have a nice neighborhood as well. At times there's a lot of annoying kids playing ball along our streets, but it's ok.
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice neighborhood! We also have a night watch patrol in ours. The things I love about my neighborhood is that we are never far from a hospital, a school, a store, a pharmacy and a gas station. It is a very convenient place to live and to raise my kids.
ReplyDeleteOur neighborhood in Italy is great, I love all the farms nearby and of course the food and wine. This post makes me excited to move back to the US though. I think we would be really happy in Texas if we got to go there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute neighborhood! My boyfriend and I just recently moved out of a neighborhood and up into a mountain. Our closet neighbor is down a big hill about 1/4 mile away! I do really like it but sometimes I get afraid at night.
ReplyDeleteMichelle | She's Not So Basic
Location really is key for everything. You are so lucky to have a place that is near a store and has a pool too! But of course, safety is the number one priority and it is great that they have neighborhood watch. :)
ReplyDeleteI thougth I was the only one that appreciates a good large sidewalk! The bigger the better!
ReplyDeleteBack in my Mom's hometown, I remember that I also love my neighbours and i don't remember having at issue at all. We share the wide pavement, and even gardening! It was a fun times.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important with a family to have a nice safe place to live. We also have an HOA, which I find to be a blessing an a curse.
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