Would you live in that neighborhood? What is the neighborhood really like?

Mr. Buyer funny you should ask, those are questions I hear frequently.  However answering those questions could cost me my license or result in a hefty fine if I gave you my opinion.  You see agents giving their opinion about a neighborhood could result in steering home buyers to certain neighborhoods and that's against the law.

So how will a buyer get answers about a neighborhood?

As a real estate agent I will be able to provide you with a neighborhood report, but what the neighborhood is really like  is something you should discover on your own. Think about it, you are about to make probably the largest investment in your life; therefore it make sense to take some time to check things out to make sure you will be happy there.

How should you go about checking out a neighborhood?

Here is  a guide as to how you should conduct your investigation:

• If you want to know about a neighborhood it would make sense to talk to people living in the neighborhood , so ask people in a coffee shop or neighborhood store  about the neighborhood, and you will get the good, bad and ugly.
• Take a look at the homes, are they being cared for? the landscaping and exterior of the homes will provide the answer.
• You will also need to drive through the neighborhood several times, and at different time of day. In the morning when people are going to work and the school bus comes through, midday, then again when the neighbors are returning from work and then at night.
• You will also want to check on transportation, closeness to the train, bus and highway.
• What type of amenities can you find, parks, theaters, restaurants etc.
• Check for traffic and noise level
• Location of fire station, hospital, police and school.
• Consider your work location, is the neighborhood commutable?
• You will also want to know about any potential environmental issues environment issues
• I would suggestion if you have school age children that you pay a visit to the school. You should also stop at the Town Hall where you can get many useful pamphlets. If there is a Chamber of Commerce you should also stop by.
• By talking to the neighbors you will discover if there are people who share your interest maybe for golfing or fishing.
• A big concern will be for child care, is it easy to find child care services?
• Sometimes there is an extended family, how about senior services?

The time spent researching a neighborhood will be well worth it because you will have a good idea if the neighborhood will meet your needs.   For additional resources, for example certain websites for further research I can assist  you.

Originally posted by Jennifer Fivelsdal at: What is the neighborhood like?