How do I find the best neighborhood?
Finding a good neighborhood is one of the most important decisions you will make for your family. Not only is it a major investment but neighborhood quality impacts almost every aspect of your life for years to come. Use these quick tips to make sure you have found the best neighborhoods when searching for a new home for your family:
1. Work with an experienced real estate professional who knows the area. You may want to consider using a buyer's agent to make sure your needs are represented and increase the odds of finding exactly what you want. Use HomesandLand.com to search for a buyer's agent in your area. It's fast, free and easy.
2. Contact the local school board and request a school report card for the schools your children will attend. Violence, graduation rates, test scores and other pertinent information can provide valuable insight into the education your children will receive.
3. Make sure you are not moving next door to a sexual predator. Few things are more frightening than finding out a sexual predator lives in your neighborhood. Contact your local police department or use a free neighborhood sex offender search tool such as familywatchdog.com to make sure your children will be safe in their new neighborhood.
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How do I Find Neighborhood Information at a Distance?
Relocating is difficult but finding the best neighborhood is now a lot easier thanks to online real estate search listings and other tools. Use these quick tips for finding the best neighborhoods before making the big move:
1. Request a FREE neighborhood report powered by HomesAndLand.com for each of the areas you are interested in. Take your FREE neighborhood reports to your agent to help you make the best decision you can about your future home.
2. Find a real estate professional who knows the area and has a strong reputation. Real estate is a local concern and nothing takes the place of someone with experience in the local market. Many real estate professionals cover an entire county whereas others specialize in specific neighborhoods or types of property such as vacation homes.
3. Take a virtual tour of the home and community. Many listings include photographs, but virtual tours take it one step further by walking through the home and yard. Neighborhoods and communities are also using virtual tours to showcase fitness centers, shopping and other local amenities.
4. Contact the Chamber of Commerce and request a new resident package. These helpful orientation guides are packed full of discounts as well as contact information for utility companies, local employers, schools, hospitals and tourist attractions.
5. Join an online discussion forum to discuss the new area. Online forums are a great way to find out more about a new area.
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What should I ask my real estate agent?
To find the best neighborhood use this handy checklist when speaking to your real estate agent. A good agent will be able to provide all of this information and more for your consideration whether you are moving across the street or across the nation.
- Average listing price in this neighborhood and surrounding area.
- Average sales price for new and existing homes.
- Average time homes are listed before being sold.
- Average rate of appreciation for similar homes in this neighborhood.
- Average age of homes in the area.
- Crime rates for property crimes and violent crimes.
- Sexual offender or predatory profiles in the vicinity.
- School report cards including graduation rates, per student expenditure and drop out rates.
- Local amenities including fire, medical services, shopping and recreation.
- Average age and number of families with children.
- Average household incomes.
- Number of renters compared to owner occupied units in neighborhood.
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Where do I find neighborhood information?
Part of buying a new home is making sure the neighborhood fits your needs; after all, the quality of life afforded by the right neighborhood is much more than four walls. Use these neighborhood quality measures and neighborhood information sources to find the perfect home and community.
1. Use the free government census site or contact your local chamber of commerce to obtain demographic information about the zip code you're considering. Your real estate agent can also provide demographic information related to the zip code including average age, number of families with children, household income, occupational status, crime rates and much more.
2. Ask your real estate agent to provide neighborhood information related to surrounding amenities including nearby parks, shopping, hospital and medical care, schools, restaurants, library and other community resources.
3. Call the police department and request neighborhood crime rates before making a final offer on any home.
4. Request sales data and foreclosure rates on existing home sales for the neighborhood. Ask your real estate professional how to interpret this data as related to your specific area.
5. Obtain air and water quality measures by contacting your local health department, private inspection or at epa.gov to search for information on your immediate area.
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How to find a great neighborhood by shopping for HOA's.
Homeowners associations are a great way to preserve neighborhood quality, retain property values and live among people who share your common interest and values. On the other hand, differences with homeowners associations can be frustrating and make homeowners feel like they have little control over their own home and land. Follow these neighborhood tips to find a HOA that will enhance - not hinder - your lifestyle:
1. Read and understand HOA restrictions. Many HOAs have age restrictions for adult communities or other restrictions related to the appearance and use of your home and property. Common examples include type of color permitted when painting your home or restrictions on storing boats and RVs. If you enjoy a uniform and consistent neighborhood then chances are this will appeal to you but stay away from tightly regulated HOA restrictions if you desire complete autonomy.
2. Pay for what you use. To derive the most benefit from an HOA it's important to actually use the services. It doesn't make sense to pay for lush golf courses, fitness facilities and other amenities that you don't intend to use. What's more, your chances of finding the perfect neighborhood increase if you live among people who share your interests.
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How do I start a neighborhood watch?
Crime prevention is everyone's concern. Nothing impacts the value of a community more than crime and the best way to deal with crime is to prevent it in the first place. Make sure your neighborhood quality of life is the best possible by following these steps to preventing crime and starting a neighborhood watch in your areas.
1. Perform a free neighborhood sex offender search at www.registeredoffenderslist.org or call your local police department to make sure you don't have a sexual predator living in your neighborhood. If one is in the general area then ask your local police agency how to notify the neighbors to make sure children are safe.
2. Notify the neighbors about the new neighborhood watch. Your local community police may have a program or you can contact a national agency that will assist you in establishing a neighborhood watch for your area: www.citizencorps.gov or www.nnwi.org are two of the most widely known neighborhood watch programs in the nation.
3. Increase community awareness and inform visitors a neighborhood watch is in effect by placing signs in the area and remaining visible. Criminals hate neighborhood watch programs because they never know who is watching them!
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