How to Evaluate Neighborhoods and Communities

When you're looking for a new home, it all comes down to location. Here's how to tell if your new neighborhood is a good one.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Area Maps
• Crime Reports
• School Reports
• Pads Of Paper
• Pens
• Pens

1. Create your own checklist of preferred features in a neighborhood or community that matches your lifestyle, interests and needs.
2. Obtain information about communities that interest you from local real estate agencies, chambers of commerce, and Internet sites.
3. Consider each neighborhood's features, such as shopping, municipal services, tax rates, schools, crime rates, cultural offerings and property values.
4. Investigate available services and sites in the community, such as medical facilities, libraries, banks, and recreational and educational facilities.
5. Find out if any neighborhood organizations or homeowners' associations have been formed to maintain and improve the area.
6. Explore selected communities on your own to examine traffic, noise, transportation routes and general appearance.
7. Take a test drive from the community to your place of employment during rush hour to determine travel time during your daily commute.

Tips & Warnings

• Most real estate guides provide excellent information for evaluating neighborhoods and communities.
• Don't ignore problem areas in a neighborhood, such as toxic-waste sites, drainage problems or recurring crimes. Monitor local crime-alert programs, newspapers and media broadcasts to stay informed about problem areas.