Consider practical aspects such as time and distance to work, schools and shopping, and the availability of public transportation. Make personal observations, but also consult with your builder, local government, friends, and if possible, people in the neighborhood.

As you explore each home, use the following checklist to determine whether the neighborhood suits your needs.

	Shopping
	Are adequate shopping facilities nearby?
	Police and fire protection
	Are police and fire protection adequate?
	Medical facilities
	Is there a hospital or medical center nearby?
	Schools and day-care
	Are schools in a convenient location? Are convenient day-care facilities available?
	Traffic
	Are the streets quiet enough? Does the speed limit on the streets suit you? If you have children, will they be safe from traffic hazards?
	Parking
	Are parking and garage facilities adequate?
	Transportation
	Is public transportation frequent and convenient?
	Trash and garbage collection
	Are trash and garbage collection adequate?
	Recreation
	Are there suitable parks and recreational facilities nearby?
	Places of worship
	Are places of worship available and convenient?
	Privacy
	Do the lot and house offer adequate privacy?
	Water
	Does the community have a reliable source of drinking water with adequate capacity to meet present and future needs?
	Sanitation facilities
	Is the sewer system or septic tank adequate and reliable? Does it meet present and anticipated future needs?
	Landscaping
	Is the land well-drained? Has proper landscaping been done to prevent erosion? Is the landscaping attractive and likely to enhance the value of the home?
	Taxes
	Are the property tax rates reasonable? Is either the tax rate or the value of the house likely to change enough to cause a substantial increase in your tax payment?
	Assessments
	Are there special assessments covering a portion of the lot, street or community development costs that will force you to pay added monthly charges for a specified number of years?
	Nuisances
	Are there nearby sources of noise, smoke, soot, dust, odors or other hazards that will affect the housing environment? Are any development plans under consideration that could substantially change the nature of the community?
	Flooding
	Is flooding from nearby waterways a potential problem?

Most people don't find infrastructure to be a very exciting subject. At the end of a difficult day, very few people enjoy settling down in a comfortable chair and reading about infrastructure. However, were it not for infrastructure, you probably would have trouble living in the home you currently occupy.

Infrastructure includes all of the basic public services and facilities that a community needs to function. Some of these services directly serve each individual property, such as water, sewer, roads, storm water management, gas, electric, telephone and other facilities. Other types of infrastructure benefit the general public within a community, such as schools, parks, landfills, water plants, wastewater treatment plants, libraries, fire and police service, hospitals, arterial and interstate roads, mass transit, courts and other similar facilities.

The United States has developed serious infrastructure problems, and these problems have significantly worsened in recent years. Deteriorating roads and bridges create safety problems and impede the movement of traffic and commerce. Water supply delivery systems are proving to be inadequate and/or inefficient to meet the growing needs for residential, agricultural, and commercial uses. Money needs to be found to meet transportation needs while addressing environmental concerns over automobile usage.

Investment in infrastructure in the U.S. peaked in the mid- to late 1970s. Since the early 1980s, federal funding of infrastructure has been declining. State and local governments have been left to seek new sources to build and maintain infrastructure. Experts say that hundreds of billions of dollars must be spent to solve America's infrastructure problems.

Infrastructure construction has traditionally been funded out of local tax revenues. However, in recent years, local governments have increasingly shifted the burden of financing these facilities onto new homes in the form of fees that are paid during the development process. As a result, new homes have become less affordable, and potential first-time buyers are having increasing difficulties entering the market.

Before we can solve our infrastructure problems, we must first acknowledge that the problem exists and dedicate ourselves to finding creative and constructive solutions. Various economic studies have shown a direct link between infrastructure spending and economic growth and productivity. By improving our infrastructure, everyone in the community can benefit.

Information courtesy The National Association of Home Builders