Family Homes for Sale Gainesville, FL
Finding perfect family homes for sale in Gainesville, FL may seem challenging at first. Luckily, I’ve narrowed down the best family communities in Gainesville. These neighborhoods often have fabulous amenities, are close to schools and activities, and feature children-focused neighborhood events.
Gainesville Neighborhood Considerations
Since purchasing a home is a big decision, there are many factors you need to keep in mind. Buying a family home in Gainesville doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful though. As your Realtor®, I’ll walk you through the process, but there are still some considerations of which you should be aware.
Public School Grades
As a parent myself, I know the quality of the schools is likely the most important home-buying factor. One of the resources that we can use as parents is the Alachua County Public Schools Grades & Reports tool. While the school grading system used in Alachua County and throughout the state of Florida is not perfect, it is an excellent place to start.
Following the close of each school year, the Alachua County School District releases the grades for each of the public schools (elementary, middle, high, and centers). A public school within the county of Alachua can earn a grade of A, B, C, D, or F.
I encourage you to review the school grades, especially for the schools zoned within your target neighborhoods. You can also find a comprehensive list of public and charter schools, as well as Magnet programs on the School Board of Alachua County website.
Community Events
Many of the neighborhoods that are best for families also feature community events. For example, there are community potlucks, trick-or-treat events, and pool parties. The amount and types of events in family neighborhoods vary, but the ability to attend these planned events fosters a warm sense of community. You will be able to meet your neighbors, introduce your children to other potential playmates, and enjoy the community in which you live.
Neighborhood Amenities
The best community neighborhoods in Gainesville have great amenities. However, the more amenities a neighborhood has, the more you’ll probably pay for your home. Therefore, I highly recommend identifying the neighborhood amenities that are most important to your family. Also, consider how long you’ll need each amenity. If your children will outgrow the playground in your favorite neighborhood in a year or two, you may find that it is more cost-effective to purchase a home in a community with fewer or different amenities.
Please note that although a community may have fewer amenities, it may have other very attractive features, like more community events or a better location, among other things.
Here are some amenities that are common in Gainesville, FL single-family home neighborhoods (this list is not exhaustive)
- Basketball courts
- Clubhouse
- Fitness Center
- Park
- Playground
- Swimming pool
- Tennis courts
Safety of Family Homes for Sale in Gainesville, FL
There is no doubt that the safety of your family is a top priority when selecting a home. So, it’s important for you to review the crime rates in the neighborhoods you are considering. The Gainesville Police Department makes it easy for you to view the crime statistics.
Alternatively, you may also call the two Gainesville law enforcement agencies for statistics and information.
Affordability of Single-Family Homes in Gainesville, FL
The affordability of single-family homes is also an important factor. So, I’ve also compiled family home communities for a variety of budgets. In this home search, you will see homes that fit budgets between $200,000-$400,000.
One of the most important things, when you have little ones to care for, is not being “house poor.” You want to spend weekends and evenings having fun, doing extracurriculars, and not stressing about the affordability of your mortgage. Finding a home that is both functional and affordable is key!
The average price for a single-family home in Gainesville, FL is $272,947*. If your budget is below this, do not worry. The inventory is up year-over-year from 2018, and there are many neighborhoods you can consider.
*Data comes from a Q2 2019 report released by Florida Realtors.
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