If you are in the market for a new piece of property and never considered a small town, it might be worthwhile to explore your options. Owning property in a smaller community can have a lot of benefits that real estate in large city might not give you.

Depending on the specific area and market, it might be possible to save money by purchasing property in a small town. Looking at the market value of homes in the city as compared to a smaller town will let you know if this can be an advantage to you. A city might have a larger market demand and higher land costs than a town.

Another factor can be the friendliness and neighborly attitude that is common in towns and smaller communities. With the people next door willing to keep an eye out for you and your children, you can feel safer raising your family in a small town than in the big city. Less traffic, smaller schools and shorter distances to get to the playground can leave you feeling more comfortable about your children's safety.

If one of your main considerations is the long term growth of your home equity, then many small communities will be a good match. It is important to find out as much as you can about the local economy in this case, in order to see if the area will grow over time. Some small towns are growing, and some are slowly withering away.

If you are thinking about looking a little further into small town life, it might be worthwhile to visit a few communities. Taking a drive through a town can tell you a lot about it. Here are a few areas to check out.

For instance, make sure to check distances to and from major highways and city centers. What sort of houses are available in general? Are the town and yards tidy and well kept? How about school locations, fire department, ambulance or hospital, library and recreation centers? Is there a local police station?

A real estate agent can be a great help in answering all of your questions. Small town life can be very rewarding, but is not for everyone. Remember, research before you buy!