Planning to Have Kids? Don't Buy a Home Until You Read This

If you drive or walk around your ideal neighborhood and there isn't a family in sight, you may want to consider a different location. Of course you can live and raise a child in an area without other families, but it's going to be harder. Having a kid can at times be lonely, especially if you're living in a new place. Moms can be super chatty, and therefore helpful, in your transition to motherhood. Additionally, where there are a lot of parents, you're likely to find a lot of playgrounds.

You may not care about proximity to parks and neat things to do outdoors, but it is almost certain that your future baby will. In fact, you could give your kid every toy, activity, and stuffed animal to play with and they will still want a change of scenery and turn from whining demons into perfect angels the minute you step outside. Any size yard will do, as long as it's safe and enclosed. Other than your own space, being close to other parks, beaches, lakes, and walking trails will give your baby something to do, and will help you feel less stir crazy.