House shopping for your family among Beavercreek homes for sale? Whether you have kids or are planning on starting a family, on top of everything else you need to be vigilant about, you'll need to look for a home and a neighborhood that are family-friendly. Those with infants and small children will, of course, have different needs than those with older kids, but it will be important to think about growing into a home with an older family if you're planning on staying put.

So many things to consider! Fortunately, our REALTORS® have put together a helpful list of things to look out for when you're house shopping with the kids in mind.

1. Quality of school district.
   Naturally, the quality of the schools your kids may be attending nearby is of paramount importance. You will want to know how the school is rated in terms of academics; student-to-teacher ratio; diversity; extracurricular activities (including sports and clubs); niche grade; and overall reviews. You can find this information through websites such as Niche.com, which rates schools and neighborhoods, or through government accountability studies such as Ohio Department of Education accountability and ranking sites. You can also stroll around in a neighborhood you like and ask potential neighbors you may see what they think of local schools.
   
   
2. Schools located within a reasonable traveling distance.
   Coordinating transportation to and from school can be challenging, especially if you have children enrolled in different schools. You don't want to drive long distances twice a day to deliver and pick up your children. Before you decide on a home, practice driving in the morning and afternoon rush hours to see how long it takes you to deliver and pick up the kids.
   
   
3. Child safety in regards to roads.
   Even if you have infants now, eventually your kids are going to want to go out the front door to ride a bike, learn to skateboard, or meet up with other kids. A cul de sac is considered an ideal road to live on for this reason. Streets with sidewalks are also preferred. Also, look for a street that doesn't lead to a busy location such as a shopping mall, or that doesn't connect two busy streets.
   
   
4. Fences for security.
   Some neighborhoods don't encourage fences. That's probably not going to work for you with kids. After all, you want them to be able to play outside, and they'll be safer if the yard is fenced. You may also want a dog, and a fence is pretty much a necessity if you have a canine.
   
   
5. Open floor plan.
   Today families mostly prefer a house with an open floor plan where parents can watch the kids. Whether you're a remote worker who stays home with the kids, or simply the primary caregiver and house tender — you'll likely require a concept where the parent can cook dinner or do their work while watching the children play in a family room or outdoors. Houses where the kitchen, dining, and family room all open up on one another have the greatest appeal for families with young children.
   
   
6. Placement of bedrooms.
   You'll of course be looking for a certain number of bedrooms, but you may not have thought yet of the placement of the bedrooms. When the kids are young, you'll want to have the primary bedroom on the same level as the kids' bedrooms; when they're older, you won't mind — in fact, you may prefer — if the bedrooms are on different levels.

Our knowledgeable real estate staff can help you find the right home for your family. Contact Wright-Patt Realty today.