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Seattle: Buying a Home? What about Crime?

By
Home Builder with Retired

Seattle: Buying a Home? What about Crime?

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Comprehensive tool by Bing Maps and The Seattle Police Department

 

The Seattle Police department has come out with an interesting crime mapping tool that will certainly be interesting to buyers and also to sellers, homeowners and renters. Part of crime prevention is being aware of it and then taking proactive steps to correct problems by cooperating with your local law enforcement agencies.

Seattle Police Mapping tool

Here is a link to the what's called My Neighborhood Map. In conjunction with Bing Maps the Seattle Police Department has put together a wide variety of information besides crime and crime statistics on this site. One can find listings for Art and Recreation, Community Services, Education, Parks, Permits, Public Safety, Transportation and Utilities. This is a bookmark link for anyone who wants quick information for in and around Seattle.

It takes a little orientation to figure out everything that is available on the map but I can see many uses for it besides giving a buyer a link to check out crime statistics in the neighborhood where they are considering purchasing a home.

Posted by

 

 

 

 

Glenn Roberts
Retired

 

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Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

In Colorado, it is up to the buyer to find this information!

Jul 10, 2010 04:28 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Glenn, I could see some neighborhoods not wanting this information to get out :)

Jul 10, 2010 04:38 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

Joan - That's why I like giving them a link. If the SPD puts out bad information, it's not my fault.

Charlie - You talking about Lynnwood? :)

Jul 10, 2010 05:51 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I am amused when looking at crime stats. Each city designates certain crimes differently (except homicide) and this makes them hard to compare.
Loved your Saturday post Glenn!
Paul

Jul 10, 2010 06:38 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

I think giving prospective buyers the link is great Glenn..............I doubt many others do.  Very professional of you, whether they use the link or not, you made it available to them.

Jul 10, 2010 09:42 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

Paul - it seems law enforcement is as local as real estate (I didn't say loco).

Roger - I was selling a home in a hot market to a woman years ago. After we wrote the offer she went out and knocked on the doors of all the neighbors to see if she wanted to live in that neighborhood. There were 5 offers and we were $5,000 less than the best offer, but the seller took our offer because the neighbors had called him and demanded that he sell it to the woman who cared about the neighborhood. I learned a lot from her. But I learned also that it's the buyer's job to do that work.

Jul 10, 2010 10:59 AM
Mark Hall
Realty One Group Cascadia - Vancouver, WA
Homes for Sale Vancouver Washington

It might be a good negotiation tool to submit the map in the offer.

"Based on current crime statistics, we can't offer more than..."

Jul 10, 2010 11:22 AM