Your house and property may be what you live in and on, but a neighborhood is where you live.

While we all have specific tastes and needs for our neighborhood, here are few neighborhood considerations:

• quality of schools
• property values
• Style of subdivision construction
• traffic
• future construction
• proximity to schools, employment, hospitals, shops, public transportation, prisons, freeways, airports, beaches, parks, stadiums and cultural activities such as museums, concerts and theaters

	Name Comments? Email

Probably even more than your home itself, your neighborhood will define more your daily routine, and thus lifestyle. Do you see yourself in a country setting, or does the thought of yard-work churn your stomach? Walk to downtown, or walk to the park? Second story of the hip, new, live-work development, or a quiet cul-de-sac to play softball with your kids? Answer these questions first, the various neighborhoods will make sense to you.

Resale value:

In general, perhaps the greatest indication of future value is the quality and selling prices of your neighborhood homes. If your new home’s street is lined with mature trees and landscaping, well maintained sidewalks and streets, and holds beautiful homes with robust sales history, you’re probably in for a good investment. Your property value will probably hold and appreciate over a period of years.

However, factors you can’t immediately see, which can be both positive and negative, are many: pending construction, zoning changes, or even soil quality and integrity of the water table with country property. It’s best to consult a local Real Estate professional for advice in these not to apparent areas. Of course, we at the Ramirez Office would be happy to help.

Visit the neighborhood directory for more information on Petaluma’s diverse areas.