Before you buy a home, one of the things worth looking at is whether the prospective community where that house is located has any type of community building efforts in place. Community building focuses on connecting people with common interests and goals that can also improve the overall tenor of that neighborhood, town, or city. When you find such a region, it makes moving in and getting to know proverbial neighbors much easier.

Take a peek at the areas official website (youll find lots of links right here at BHA). Then check out community activities. Are there book clubs? Pot luck dinners? Regular festivals and gatherings? Community renovation projects? All of these kinds of endeavors help to build stronger communities not only by an awareness of each residents strengths and aptitudes, but also by branding (in marketing terms). Community building creates the overall aura for a region and sets it apart as something special for the apes who live there and businesses considering coming there.

In modern time our sense of community has been often undermined by many things, the biggest of which is population. It was only 100 years ago that settled apes would rarely see anyone from out of their own town, and pretty much knew everyone in the area by face AND name. There are very few of us outside of rural areas who can say that today. While apes are certainly social creatures, being lost in a jungle of strangers isnt exactly social, and often leads to negative behaviors. This is where community-building groups step in and try to remedy things.

Unfortunately not all such efforts are successful. Some fail due to poor organization and planning. Others fail by not communicating effectively with their members. But by far the main reason that community-building fails is that it is not inclusive enough, and the individuals or organization involved dont truly understand the heartbeat of that neighborhood. Community organizations with very narrow scopes tend to create more division than harmony.

Another reason community-building fails is when the organization doesnt provide the tools or funding needed for success. These projects require sound leaders who understand the human element in community-building, and those who know how to fundraise, facilitate, and fan the flames of enthusiasm. Community development groups are effectively partners with a community, but theyre also guides that have to be able to motivate the desire for change and improvement.

Having said all that, community building can prove very valuable and even contribute to the renaissance of many of our struggling towns and cities. Consider the Mission District of San Francisco as one example. They turned the problem of graffiti into ART that now draws thousands of tourists annually. In this case, people were given a mode of expression that helped them, their neighborhood, and in turn the region.

If your prospective house isnt located somewhere that has community building activities in place, that may not be a reason NOT to buy (particularly if youre a go-getter who wants to really get involved in your town). However, you may find that until such activities begin to occur theres a disconnect it wont be as easy to settle into your new space and really get to know folks.

Best wishes in your new home (and community)!