When looking for a new home, one of the most important things to remember is choosing one that will support the type of lifestyle you want to have. Where you live and what kind of house you live in have significantly impacted how you live your life. That said, if you want to maintain or pursue an active lifestyle in your new home, you have to consider certain factors.
Here are a few house-hunting tips for families that want to maintain or pursue an active lifestyle:
Look for the right neighborhood
Neighborhoods like Peppercorn Hill provide residents with plenty of opportunities to stay active. These neighborhoods have plenty of sidewalks, outdoor recreation areas, and even community centers where people can stay fit. So if you want to live in a place that not only supports your active lifestyle but also motivates you to maintain it, choose your new neighborhood carefully.
For example, look for a neighborhood that has:
- Safe and spacious sidewalks where you can walk and jog regularly.
- Parks, playgrounds, and other outdoor recreation areas that your family can use for various exercises.
- Community centers like public pools, gyms, and sports venues allow residents to socialize and stay fit at the same time.
- Bike lanes or hiking trails if cycling or hiking is your primary mode of exercise.
- Good proximity to fitness centers like gyms and yoga studios.
- Local children’s sports teams to promote athleticism among your children if you have any.
Consider buying a home with an extra room
An extra room can serve many purposes, but if you want to promote an active lifestyle within your family, turning it into a home gym may be a good idea. This way, you won’t have to step out of the house to get a good workout in, and it can be pretty motivating to exercise since a fitness area is readily accessible.
Of course, you would also have to consider the costs of having a gym at home, but not having to pay for a gym membership and drive to the gym daily can offset the expenses.
Look for a home with a sizable backyard
Spending time outdoors has a lot of benefits. Primarily, it is a great way to relieve stress, encourage active playtime, and increase physical activity for all family members. Having a good-sized backyard can help you achieve all of these benefits right at home, apart from other advantages like having more living space and increasing your ROI.
Although a backyard doesn’t have to be sprawling to encourage an active lifestyle, it shouldn’t be too cramped either. If you have the budget to spare, consider choosing a home with a medium to large-sized backyard that has plenty of room to run around and engage in aerobic exercises. If, on the other hand, your budget is limited to a home with a small-ish backyard, try to avoid cramping it with furniture, greenery, or other space-consuming elements.
Avoid neighborhoods with plenty of unhealthy food choices
Unfortunately, some neighborhoods have more unhealthy food choices than healthy ones. This is common in low-income neighborhoods where fast-food restaurants exceed supermarkets that offer healthy options. However, this doesn’t mean that higher-income neighborhoods are always a good distance away from unhealthy food choices.
With that in mind, choose a house in a neighborhood with more healthy food options than unhealthy ones. Scope out the nearby supermarkets and see if they offer healthy food choices that can support your lifestyle. At the same time, try to avoid neighborhoods that have street after street full of fast-food restaurants; if they are near your home, you are more likely to be tempted to buy from them.
Move to an area with low levels of pollution
Regardless of how active or healthy you are, a polluted environment can still wreak havoc on your health. Air pollution is most especially problematic. With constant exposure to air pollutants, your risk of developing respiratory ailments, heart disease, and lung cancer is higher—especially if you are already predisposed to these conditions.
When looking for a new home, don’t forget to research the area’s pollution levels. Here is a map that can tell you more about the relative air pollution in a particular city or state.
Maintaining an active lifestyle is not just about exercising or eating right—it also has a lot to do with ensuring the quality of your environment. With these tips, you can not only pick the best house to live in—but you can also help ensure that your family will have a healthier life ahead.
