Once you’ve purchased your new home in LA, you can repaint. You can buy new appliances. You can change the ceiling fixtures, the flooring, and everything in between. You can even change the siding and the landscaping and install a new front door. You might even be able to add a room.

There’s just one thing you can’t change: The neighborhood.

So before you begin to view the houses in LA, think about where you want to live, and why. Then refuse to even look at homes in unsuitable locations.

I’ve known people who fell in love with a house and then had realized they had purchased in the wrong location – and they regretted it for years.

 Choose the perfect houses in LA neighborhoods

First consider distance and the most simple way of getting to work, school, shopping, and fun. If you or someone in your family has medical issues, consider the distance to doctors and hospitals. If you’re a church-goer, consider the distance between the nearest church and the houses in LA.

After convenience, look at what else occupies or affects the neighborhood. Are there factories – or parks?  How about traffic or noise from a nearby railroad track? Take a look around and make sure there is nothing that will make you regret about the location you chose.

Finally, look at the people. You want to feel comfortable with the people that you live near or even next to. As an agent, I’m legally not allowed to talk with you about the people, but you are free to look around, do some research, and draw your own conclusions.

So before you decide on a likely location, do that research. Take a drive through the neighborhoods. Look at how the homes are kept and notice the people you see. Go back at different times of the day and see who is out and about. You can even stop and talk with people, and ask them about life in their neighborhood.

If the neighborhood has an official name, go online and see if there’s a neighborhood organization with a website. There you could learn about community activities and attitudes. An online search of sites such ashttp://www.areavibes.com/ and http://www.city-data.com/can also tell you about the schools, crime statistics, and demographics.

You have a life to live. There’s no point in living where you won’t be or feel comfortable with your surroundings  – and there will be no sense spending your life in the car!

I’ll be glad to help you find houses in LA that exactly fits both your lifestyle and your budget.

If you want to find out more, stay up-to-date with my blog, and be sure to check out my books on how to sell your home as well.