No one likes to move and on top of that, you have to pick a new house. And, as if those two things are enough, you will sometimes need to move to an area where you have never been, that you know nothing about. For example, if you know nothing about Austin real estate but you want to move to Austin, the process of finding a neighborhood could be extremely daunting. However, there are some tricks that can make this decision a bit easier. Read on to conquer the art of finding a location.

1.  The Little Ones

Do you have children? If so, you will want to be located near a school, preferably one of stature. Websites like Great Schools can provide you the rankings and standardized test scores of schools in your area of interest. This allows you to dictate which area is right for you. Even if you don’t have children, being near a school can be a huge selling point and could benefit you down the road if you think you will sell in the years to come.

If you have children, you may also consider if there are parks or pools in the area. Being near places where you can have some family fun might be a selling point for you.

2.  The Dreaded Commute

No one wants to have to drive an hour to work every day. Make sure to imagine the commute to your job with and without traffic. How is the drive during rush hour? Are you willing to put up with hours of traffic for that perfect home?

You could also check out the public transportation situation in your area. Perhaps there is a shuttle from your house to work area that would lower your gas bill tremendously.  You may also want to ask yourself how close your area is to amenities such as grocery stores, malls, restaurants, etc.

3.  Safety

This is, of course, the most important factor to consider when scoping out an area for your new home. The Realty Times lists several suggestions on how to investigate safety in your area. You may want to inquire at the local police department about the crime rate in your prospective area. Take advantage of websites like Family Watchdog which allow you to examine general crime rates.

4.  Ambiance

Research can only tell you so much about a place. In order to fully understand what you are getting yourself into, go visit at all times of day! Suppose that you are looking at a hip, downtown location for your new area. During the day, it could seem like a great find. But at night, the area could be busting at the seams with noise and party-goers. You will want to know how your area is going to be at all times. Ask a local real estate agent for his two cents -- someone who specializes in the area will definitely be able to tell you what it’s like at all times of day.

Finding the perfect home is never an easy task. Make things a little bit easier on yourself by forming criteria about your place and then following those criteria. If you follow these tips and consider these factors, you will be able to whittle down your options in no time.

James Kim writes for Austin Real Estate service Homecity.com. HomeCity combines powerful online Austin MLS search technology and other online tools with personalized real estate services to provide clients with the knowledge they need to make the right buying and selling decisions.