prowest 
Trying to find a property as a single or a couple can be hard enough, let alone when you add kids into the mix.
Once you have a family there are likely to be certain features you want in a new neighbourhood, such as good schools,
plenty of places for kids to run around and a family friendly community.
With that in mind here are some things you might like to look out for before you find somewhere to settle down:
School zones
Being in the right school catchment is at the top of most parents’ property wish lists. But how do you know
what school you want to send your kids to?
Before you decide on a particular property it might be worth visiting the local schools and doing some on-line
research to help you decide if there is one particular school that would be suitable for your child.
Keep in mind that some schools strictly enforce their catchment zones, meaning you might not be able to
enroll at the school unless you’re living within a specific boundary so it’s important to get your school choice right from
the start.
Childcare centres
If you’ll be dropping your kids off at childcare during the week then you’ll need to find
out what providers are available in the area.
Childcare centres located in highly populated areas might have long-wait lists to join, so this is
something to keep in mind. You may need to look at alternate options in these cases such as family
daycare or local babysitting services.
Local demographics
Are you looking to live in an area popular with other young families? Websites such as realestate.com.au
provide demographic data for most suburbs so you can find out the percentage of families living in any given suburb.
Visiting a suburb and hanging out at its local shops and cafes can also give you a general feel for the types of people
living in the area, and help you decide whether or not the area will be suited to your family.
Nearby amenities
Kids tend to get bored easily, so you’ll probably want access to things that will keep them entertained
such as parks, pools and shopping centres.
This is particularly important if you intend to live in an apartment or small house, as you may not have
a lot of room at your own property for your kids to be able to run around freely.
Do you like it?
At the end of the day kids are pretty adaptable, so if you like a particular property or suburb that
ticks a lot of boxes for you happy then your kids will probably be just happy too.
