Whether you’ve just gotten news about a job transfer, are looking to relocate somewhere nearby or haven’t decided when or how you’ll be moving next, one thing’s certain: you’ll care about location. Within a given region, there are cities; within cities, neighborhoods; within neighborhoods, subdivisions or developments or communities. How can you decide which is right for you? What issues matter most?

Beyond visiting homes and asking around, there are ways you can whittle down the possibilities, particularly through checklists. So if you’re coming up against a wall, location-wise, consider these questions as a preliminary guide:

1. Convenience:

• How close are grocery stores?
• How close are schools?
• How close is your office/work?
• How close are other places you visit often (entertainment, etc.)?
• How close are highways/trains/airports?

2. Logistics

• What’s the crime rate like?
• What’s the tax rate like?
• How are surrounding properties zoned? Will there be primarily houses around you or commercial areas?
• What are the area’s demographics like?

3. Comfort

• What’s the noise level like? At different times of day?
• Is the area urban/rural/suburban? Whatever it is, are you comfortable with that?
• Does the community seem tight-knit? Friendly?
• What, if any, community amenities are available?

Of course, the ultimate deciding factor in a new home purchase can sometimes be your own gut instinct, along with the emotional response you have to a property. But these questions can sometimes help pull objective facts out of a showing that will help you make a more informed decision.

Happy house hunting!