A growing family is one of the top reasons people buy a home in Austin. When shopping for a home while pregnant, there are lots of tips and tricks that can make the process much less stressful. That’s why we’ve created our Buying a Home While Pregnant Series. We’ll be covering a long list of common concerns and questions, but if you have a specific issue we encourage you to email us so we can help!
A growing family definitely adds additional consideration to the neighborhoods you may want to consider. With no children, the priorities may be proximity to work and play, or a specific design style, but when children arrive we tend to see these become less important.
#1 Consideration: Schools
The primary concern for new moms is often the local schools. And while superior schools are a great feature to any home, remember that a baby has at least 5 years before they are enrolled in school. In that time, a lot could happen with school ratings. Pay closer attention to elementary school ratings. Middle and high school is at least 10 years away and you might be in a new house by then. If you are planning to buy your “forever home,” it is important to look at all three schools. Take a look at historical ratings. Have the ratings fluctuated or have them been fairly stable? Choose schools that have been highly rated for some time to show a history there.
If the new baby isn’t your first child, you’ll be utilizing the schools a lot sooner so you should do more due diligence. Is it important for you to walk them to school or would you be ok with driving them? If you want to walk, check out the distance to each school. If you want them to ride the bus, make sure your area is on the bus route.
Neighborhood Safety
We also see new moms be much more concerned about neighborhood safety. Crime stats are generally easy to find online, but as you should with any home purchase, make sure you visit the neighborhood at different times of day. This will give you the best indication of how comfortable you will be with living there.
Amenities and Play
Another consideration is often neighborhood amenities. In Austin, there are quite a few master planned communities that have a host of amenities geared towards families: playscapes, parks, hiking trails, community pools and rec centers. It’s good to have some idea of what your family might use so you can decide if having these nearby are worth a little extra.
Considering Buying a Home in Austin?
We can help! We have a combined 55+ years of experience in real estate and can help you get a great deal. Check out our Austin Home Buyer page to learn more about who we are and how we work. Then, call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com to schedule a no obligation consultation.
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