Parenting is a great responsibility and taking care of your child’s comfort and safety is a priority. Single moms have a hard time finding the best properties for their families. Working and caring for children alone is challenging enough, it gets even more difficult when you are moving.
Picking a good neighborhood is crucial for your kids’ safety and convenience. Single moms can pick the best neighborhoods by considering big factors that hold great weight in moving decisions. Not to mention, housing prices are extremely high in 2023. These conditions make it difficult for moms to make decisions on a whim.
So how should a single mom pick her best neighborhood in 2023? Through planning and strategizing. You need to think through every move and any necessary precautions should be taken.
Create a Budget
The budget is important. Some neighborhoods cost more than others. It’s not only about the cost of housing in certain areas. You need to consider every other need you will have after moving.
What is your budget for schools, daycare, and extracurricular activities? Some neighborhoods have more expensive schools than others. You might not be able to afford to send your children to schools nearby. Do you need to save money on schooling and find a neighborhood with public schools?
Transportation will also cost you, so it’s best to find a neighborhood with public transportation. You might have a personal vehicle, but think about the long run, your children will grow up soon and will want to go around town with their friends alone.
You should also think about the pricing of pools and gyms in your neighborhood. What shops are around and how expensive they are will have a big impact on your budget as a single mom. Therefore, it’s best to set limitations and search for your price limit.
Consider Safety
You will feel much more comfortable at a smaller home when you know that your chosen neighborhood has a minimal criminal record. Moreover, children will want to hang out in the neighborhood, take walks, and enjoy the fresh air. When you send your kids to school it’s best for everyone to ensure that they are taking a safe route.
Therefore, you should look up the criminal records and protection levels of each neighborhood you consider moving to. How rare cameras are in the area, if there have been any robberies, or if there is a police station nearby.
Navigation is also important, especially if you have young children. A single mom might not always be able to keep an eye on the children, especially when you have to work. So it’s best to find neighborhoods where kids will not get lost and can easily navigate. Moreover, you need to be sure that the neighborhood has kind and welcoming people who will be able to take care of your kids when you can’t find a babysitter.
Seek Professional Advice
Professional real estate agents are your best shot at finding something to buy quickly and with a lot of insight. You can give a list of your requirements to a professional and ask them to find the most suitable property for you.
If you are searching for rental properties to move to, it’s best to find a reliable and trustworthy property management company that will find the best neighborhood that suits your needs.
Although we have many platforms in 2023 that help us filter through properties, often landlords and sellers don’t use such websites for marketing. Whenever they do, the right property for you might be placed on a platform you haven’t searched for. Therefore, if you can afford it, it’s best to put your trust in respected and qualified professionals.
Create a List of Priorities
When you search for a proper neighborhood, make sure to create a list of what is the most important to you and for your kids. The list should include the most crucial necessities for living.
- Hospitals – so you don’t have to spend money on gas when you have to get regular check-ups, and so that you can get medical attention quickly in case of emergencies.
- school/daycare – are you looking for public or private schools and daycare systems? Do you have specific standards for schools? Consider your requirements for education
- Gyms, pools, dance studios, theaters, etc. – What type of extracurricular activities do your kids enjoy? Do they like art or sports? What hobbies are best for their physical and mental health?
- Parks and stadiums – the children need fresh air and physical activities. Even if they go to the best gym and have swimming lessons, they will want to play sports games with their peers.
Final Thoughts
After you have created a list of priorities, created a budget, sought advice, and made sure every safety norm is in place, you can start moving. Searching for new places to live can be extra difficult for single parents, but with the right plan and strategy, you can make things easier for you and your kids.
