REAL ESTATE
Port Townsend, WA

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of real estate for sale in Port Townsend and Jefferson County.

Evaluating Neighborhoods in the Port Townsend Area

Moving into a new home is much like getting married. When you get married, you also marry the family. When you buy a house, you don't just buy the home - you buy the neighborhood, too.

If you're moving to a new home not far from where you're currently living, you no doubt are fairly aware of the differences between neighborhoods in your local area. However, moving to another state or even just another area within your state can be like moving to a foreign country. Every community and even every neighborhood within the community has its own culture and standards.

In order to increase the likelihood of buying a home in a neighborhood you'll love, here is a checklist to take with you on your house hunt to help you find your dream house and a great neighborhood.

• Make a list of the things that are most important to you about a neighborhood. Do you want a mixed neighborhood with all ages - young families to retired? Or do you prefer all young families? All retired? Do you prefer a quality-controlled community with CC&Rs or do you prefer less rules and restrictions?
• Drive by the house at different times of day and during different days of the week. The neighborhood that's peaceful and quiet during the day mid-week may become quite noisy with children playing, lawns being mowed, and home construction projects. Or it may be just the opposite with quiet reigning during the weekend but unbearably noisy from a nearby factory or construction site.
• Use your nose to discern if there are wafting odors from any local industries, such as pulp mills or farms with open silage pits. Drive by the property during varying times and days as the wind shifts directions. If you're looking at waterfront, check at low tide for mud flats, which often have an unpleasant odor.
• Talk to the neighbors. They love to tell newcomers all the about the neighborhood and everyone in it.
• Get the basic services information, such as how far the fire department is from your dream house (this is one of the pieces of information your insurance company uses to determine your rate.) If you have school-age children, resource the local options for their education. Many areas, such as Port Townsend, have several alternative schools as well as public schools. If you have special needs, such as those required by certain medical conditions, be sure to ask your real estate agent to find the closest necessary services.
• If privacy or seclusion are important to you, define what that means to you. It may mean having a large lot or it may mean living in the middle of 20 acres of woods.
• Some communities are created with special interests in mind, such as ecological, equestrian, and aviation. If you have a life style that includes special interests, be sure and let your real estate agent know so they can help you find an area that supports it.

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