There is so much to take into consideration when you’re house hunting. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is what neighborhood you’ll live in. Remember, you are probably planning on being here for a long time to come. So choosing a neighborhood that compliments your personality is very important. In Long Beach, we have many different neighborhoods, each with its owns style, flair, unique homes, and businesses. From Bixby Knolls to Belmont Heights, Wrigley, and Rose Park (and all the neighborhoods in between), Long Beach neighborhoods certainly have a lot to offer. Here are some resources you can use to help you find your ideal area.
Ask Your Agent for Help
This seems obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning. You will be getting pretty close with your agent during the home buying process, so go ahead and take advantage of their professional experience. They have driven to, and shown homes in, practically every corner of Long Beach. Let your agent know if you’re looking for a family-friendly area. Or if you would prefer it to be walkable with a lot of character, or close to the beach, etc. An experienced Long Beach real estate agent will certainly be able to point you in the right direction. They can also send you listings that are in (or at least very close to) the Long Beach neighborhood that would be the best fit.
The Wrigley Neighborhood Group on Facebook is a great example of an active group with lots of community engagement. This would be a great place to ask any questions you have about the neighborhood. Most neighborhoods within Long Beach have similar pages as well.
Post Your Question on Social Media
Utilize your social networks for recommendations. Facebook even has a “looking for recommendations” feature when you post a status. Your network probably reaches further reaching than you think. Friends can tag their friends in your post to get even more advice. Search Facebook Groups for “Long Beach Moms” or “Long Beach Meetups” and ask about neighborhood recommendations. There’s nothing more valuable than getting insider advice from people who actually live in the neighborhood you are considering moving to.
Drive Around on a Tour of Long Beach Neighborhoods
Go out and see Long Beach’s neighborhoods for yourself! Hop in the car and drive around the different areas you might be interested in. Check out the local restaurants, parks, schools, shopping centers, and styles of homes. Another good idea is to go during peak traffic times to get a little glimpse of the reality of working there. A quiet street on a Sunday afternoon might be much different at 5:00 on a Tuesday. Don’t forget to tour the neighborhood at night too. This can be a great way to discover if you will be comfortable getting home if you work late.
Getting an in-person feel of the neighborhood is a great way to decide if it’s a good fit for you and your family. However, you still have options if you are moving to Long Beach from out of the area. YouTube is a great resource to explore neighborhoods from home. Simply search for the name of the neighborhood and you’ll be surprised at how many video tours you can find. Below is an example of a neighborhood video from The Shannon Jones Team. CLICK HERE to see more Long Beach neighborhood videos.
Similarly, utilizing Google Maps is a great way to “walk” around the neighborhood at a street level. Don’t forget to click on any business you think you might like. Reviews can be another great way to get a feel for the neighborhood.
Search Websites, Blogs, and Online Forums
Simply Google “best neighborhoods in Long Beach.” This will give you a long list of search results including websites and blogs giving their opinions, scores, and reviews of all the different Long Beach neighborhoods.
The website Areavibes gives a clickable list of different neighborhoods and scores. The scores cover everything from the cost of living, graduation rates, amenities, and more. The site also has a very convenient interactive map so you can geographically see where each of the neighborhoods is located.
Long Beach Neighborhoods
There is a lot to choose from when it comes to Long Beach neighborhoods. Luckily, The Shannon Jones Team has over 20 years of experience working and living in Long Beach. We are experts on the ins and outs of what each neighborhood has to offer. If you need expertise on any area of Long Beach, please let us know. We are always happy to be a resource!
For more information on each Long Beach neighborhood, please CLICK HERE.
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