A home purchase requires a lot of planning ahead. As you predict how much closet space and how many bedrooms you'll need, you may also want to consider the neighborhoods in which prospective homes are located. You can't determine a neighborhood's atmosphere or the quality of the school system serving it solely by the styles of homes in the area. You'll need to visit the schools in person, and check the streets out at varying times of the day and week to get a realistic idea of the atmosphere. Drive through on a weekday, during the day and again at night. You'll also want to check out the level of activity on the weekends. Read an area paper, which may highlight school and community activities. Once you're seriously considering buying a particular home, you may want to speak with a few prospective neighbors. Are they happy with the quality of education at area schools? Do neighbors enjoy block parties and frequent get-togethers? Or are communications generally limited to a friendly nod and a neighborhood watch program? For more information on a community, speak with a real estate agent.
