
11. Understand the Value of a Neighborhood
On the TV show Fixer Upper, the tagline is that they find “the worst house in the best neighborhood”. Whether you plan to do a total rehab on your house or not, finding a good neighborhood truly is the key to holding on to the long-term value of your property. You could have the greatest mansion in the world, but if it’s in the middle of the ghetto, it’s going to be worth half of the price that it would be in an affluent area.
However, even if a town isn’t too pretty right now, that doesn’t mean it will always be a bad place to live. For example, towns that are beginning to gentrify with young professionals moving in usually have very affordable homes. It may take a few years before the quality of the neighborhood improves, but it could end up being a good investment. For example, if a micro brewery or a hip coffee shop opens up in the area, it could mean that the housing prices may go up soon.