Finding a great family neighborhood is of the utmost importance for most families. From great schools to low crime rates and a plethora of family activities, there may be a wide list of factors to consider when searching for a good neighborhood in which to purchase your next home.

Here is our checklist of what to look in terms of the neighborhood when searching for your next home:

• A good realtor who is familiar with the area’s neighborhoods - One of the first things you will want to remember is that Flower Mound realtors are invaluable when it comes to providing you with the information necessary to find a great family neighborhood. If you work with Flower Mound realtors who have a good understanding and an extensive history of the area’s neighborhoods, Flower Mound realtors will be able to impart on you a considerable amount of valuable information.

• General appearance of the homes in the neighborhood – In general, you can get a good feel of the quality of the neighborhood by the general appearance of the homes in the neighborhood. There are many Flower Mound realtors who will be happy to provide you with a tour of the neighborhood. Are the homes well maintained, are the yards and surrounding landscape neat and tidy? The small details of a neighborhood often speak the loudest in terms of overall quality.

• Information about the school district – You can find information on nearly every school district in the country, including a Flower Mound Montessori school, online. In addition to schools and school districts posting their own information regarding their school, such as graduation rates and standardized test scores, there are a number of websites that allow you to simply enter the zip code of the home in which you are interested and capture information regarding the school district of that zip code. In other words, the Internet can definitely be your best friend when researching the schools of any area.

• Parks and other recreational activities – Another great way to decide whether a neighborhood is ideal for your family is to check out the neighborhood’s facilities. Look at local parks, sports fields, libraries and recreational facilities to see if they are clean, safe and well maintained. Take the time to walk the neighborhood and note the safety of the surrounding area, whether there are sidewalks and intersection crosswalks, and even where the location of your child’s bus stop will be located in relation to your home. These small details are very important to most families, yet are often overlooked.

• Crime statistics – Because appearances can often be deceiving, it is best to head directly to the local police station and ask to see the last few years’ worth of crime statistics. There are also several websites that allow you to enter the appropriate zip code and compare the crime statistics with other, nearby neighborhoods. Pay close attention to property and personal crime statistics, as these could affect your family’s overall safety.