When you’re on the home-buying market, location isn’t everything — but it’s a lot. Where you
live determines your commute, affects your social life, and shapes your children’s education.
You probably have your own dream neighborhoods in College Station — and there are probably
some you’d rather avoid. But in case you don’t — or if you want a little guidance as you do your
research — ABODO has put together a handy checklist of things to look for (and avoid) as you
examine possible settings for your new house.
1. Schools
If you don’t have kids and don’t plan on having them, skip to No. 2. But if you have a
family, or think you might have one eventually, schools should be a major part of
assessing a neighborhood. College Station only has one school district, but it has two
public high schools, two middle schools, two intermediate schools, and nine elementary
schools. Where you live will dictate which schools your child will attend. You can find
more info at csisd.org , and sites like Niche k12 offer testing statistics, user reviews, and
contact information for thousands of schools nationwide — public, private, and charter.
2. Property Taxes
When you move, you won’t only be paying for your house — you also pay tax on the
land it sits on. So it’s a good idea to know the general tax rate in a potential new
neighborhood. The Brazos County Tax Office provides tax information, forms, and
up-to-date valuations of homes through an online search function.
3. Crime Rate
Safety is a universally desirable neighborhood characteristic. Everyone wants the
freedom to go on an evening walk without worry, leave ground-floor windows open
overnight, and to lock bikes up outside without worrying about them getting stolen. To
check up on the crime rate of your potential neighborhood, you can peruse the College
Station PD’s Daily Significant Activity page or visit CrimeReports.com for a map of
offenses, as well as trends.
4. Natural Phenomena
We’re not talking about snowstorms or hurricanes here — both are unlikely in Brazos
County. But knowing if your new house is located in a floodplain isn’t as obvious, and
there are several creeks in the College Station area where flooding can occur. Flooding
is huge for homeowners, for a number of reasons: It lowers the property’s value,
destroys belongings, and is not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance. Flood
protection is a separate policy, and you’ll absolutely want it if your home is in a
floodplain. To check, visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center or FloodSmart.gov . The
City of College Station website also has a helpful list of area floodplains.
5. Eye Test
This neighborhood measure is the easiest to research: Just take a look around and see
how you feel. Do the yards look maintained? Are there people outside, enjoying the
area and engaging in the community? Are the streets clean? How are the noise and
traffic levels? Also stop by the neighborhood at night to see if anything changes. It’s a
simple test, but it shouldn’t be underestimated.
Myke Leatham, Broker Brazos County Realty, LLC
13464 I and GN Rd, College Station, TX 77845
http://www.CollegeStationHomes.com Office: 979-693-0201 Email: Homes@AggieRealEstate.com
Source: ABODO