As you search for the perfect home, you will want to consider many aspects of the neighborhood. Your daily commute, whether it's to and from work, errands or your family activities, should be a pleasant one. Your family will want to live somewhere that suits their needs. For many people, it's important to have a "walkable" neighborhood. If you are a one-car family or just want to get some exercise and not have to drive your car for every errand, this type of neighborhood would be great for you.
What is a “Walk Score”?
Many websites provide something called a "walk score". This is an approximation of how "walkable" the area is for it's residents. Here's a key that will help you understand what each score means.
90-100: Many people get by without owning a car! Walking and biking to errands, activities and even back and forth for work is common.
70-89: It’s possible to get by just walking or biking but some people are still car owners.
50-69: You can find some stores and basic amenities within walking distance but most trips will require public transportation or a car.
25-49: These cities are car dependent. There are very few stores, activities, restaurants etc. that are within walking distance so driving is a must.
0-24: These are driving only area. Nothing in the neighborhood is within walking distance!
*Data above from ActiveRain.com
What Does It Take To Be A "Walkable" City?
There are a number of factors that will contribute to walkability that may not be part of the algorithm used when you look up the walk score of a neighborhood. Home buyers should be aware that the Walk Score is just an approximation. If you are interested in purchasing a home in an area always visit and walk around the neighborhood for yourself, don’t rely just on the walk score to steer you.
Public Transportation: Walkable neighborhoods will have good public transportation as well. You should identify if your prospective home is near a metro or bus station.
Street Design & Width: If the area has many narrow streets, you may notice a lot of traffic. However, shorter blocks will help with traffic by providing many different routes to get to the same destination. For street design, sidewalks and safe cross walks are a must. Keep an eye out for speed signs and other features that represent a walkable area that is safe from speeding cars. Also look for the design of the overall community. Notice that pedestrian friendly communities have buildings close to sidewalks and parking in the back.
North Texas’ City Walk Scores
* Data above as of Oct, 2017 from Walkscore.com
ARE YOU BUYING A HOME IN DALLAS?
If you are a first time homebuyer and are planning to relocate to Dallas TX metro area and are planning to explore cities like Frisco,TX, Plano TX, Coppell TX, Irving TX, Flower Mound TX or Southlake TX, contact us. Our excellent Frisco Real Estate Services provided by top Frisco Real Estate Agents will make buying your first home much easier and will make your Dallas TX relocation less stressful! If you’re buying a home in Frisco, Southlake, Colleyville, University Park, Prosper, Celina, Coppell, Irving, Grapevine, Flower Mound, or any of the surrounding communities, we’d love to help you find the perfect place.Call us at 469-269-6541 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. Our expert real estate agents will start searching for your dream home right away.
Check out our Dallas Relocation Resources at http://www.nitinguptadfw.com/dallas-relocation-real-estate-agent
