5 big mistakes to avoid when choosing a neighborhood (©
fStop/Getty Images)  © fStop/Getty Images  Buyers spend months
combing through real-estate listing sites looking for that
perfect home: the dwelling that fits their budget and their
dreams of a better lifestyle.  But how much time do they spend
looking at the area around it? Not nearly enough, says Andrew
Schiller, founder and CEO of NeighborhoodScout.  "Most people
focus on the house … and only secondarily look at the
neighborhood. It should actually be the reverse," Schiller says.
You can have a glorious house, Schiller says, but you will find
your lifestyle suffering if the neighborhood isn't a good fit.
The people, amenities, schools and a host of other factors are
what help determine whether you're living the American dream or
just living.  Here are the five biggest mistakes people make in
choosing a neighborhood, as well as some tips on scoping out
your next community.  Home affordability calculator  1. They
think short-term. Often, moves happen b