Thursday, June 08, 2006
Get off your fanny and go talk to the neighbor's nanny.
Smarter Agent Mobile (with GPS) is the best tool to learn about neighborhoods quickly.
You can swoop into a neighborhood you desire and learn about property values from your cell phone.
Heck, even with all the neat Internet real estate tools out there, 1 out of 5 people find the eventual home they purchase by driving by it. That's over 1,500,000 people a year that buy a home they first saw and found themselves by driving through a neighborhood. Then of course most bounce the idea of their Realtor, and a home is bought!
In the below article, Michele Dawson, writing for realtytimes.com, gives you tips for what to think about as you walk and drive around new neighborhoods.
Her advice is the same process followed by all real estate savvy pro's and should be heeded.
She says by all means use the Internet-- but then get off your butt and do your homework in the neighborhood.
Talk to the neighbors, police, visit the schools etc.
The more you know the better deal you will get! Seems obvious...but there are enlightening tibits that can be discovered in any neighborhood. You would be surprised what a nosey neighbor knows about the place you are thinking about buying! Heck, sometimes meeting the neighbors is a real eye opening experience in its own right ;).
Find The Perfect Neighborhood.
How to scout out the best place to call home
By Michele Dawson
Once you've become pre-qualified for a loan, you should be ready to put your house-hunting efforts into full gear. But don't skip the important step of scouting out neighborhoods before you start your search for the perfect house.
The neighborhood in which you live will heavily dictate your whole way of lifeÂthings like walking to a nearby park with your kids, knowing your kids are attending good schools, feeling safe when your children play outdoors, being close to restaurants and shopping, enjoying a short commute, and knowing your home will appreciate at a healthy rate.
Of course one way to get started in your neighborhood search is to get in your car and explore, especially if you're unfamiliar with the area. Get an idea about the neighborhoods by driving around and seeing which areas appeal to you. Walk around, explore, and talk to some of the residents.
Take note of the general appearance of the homes. Are they well maintained? Are they nicely landscaped?
If you have children, you might be looking for a neighborhood with plenty of children around, as opposed to neighborhoods that attract more seniors or young singles.
Other factors you'll want to consider are the schools, crime, your family's specific needs, and appreciation - as in how much the value of the home is likely to increase.
A good Realtor will be very familiar with all the neighborhoods in the area and should be able to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of the specific neighborhoods you're eyeing.
The School District
Even if you don't have school-aged children, buying a home in a district with good schools will be in your best interest. When and if you sell the home at some point in the futurfutureure buyers with children will likely consider good schools their top priority. And neighborhoods with good schools typically attract more buyers. Ask your Realtor about information on schools in the area.
Talk to people in the neighborhood, especially people with children. Standardized test scores are also available on the Internet.
Visit the schools and take a tour if you have children. It's important that your decision isn't based purely through facts gathered online. Get a true feeling for what the school is like.
Crime Statistics
No one wants to live in a neighborhood where break-ins and burglary are the norm. There are web sites that can provide you with statistics on crime and other information pertinent to your search.
Talk to neighbors.
Take note if there are bars on the windows and doors of homes.
Talk to the police or sheriff's department.
Check for gang graffiti on walls and walkways.
Keep in mind that if you're looking in-town, you may not be able to get away from everything you consider unappealing (such as noise and traffic).
Keep Your Family in Mind
A home isn't just an investment when you have a family to think of. You'll need to consider more than just the number of bedrooms or whether it has an attached garage. You'll need to consider the community first and foremost. Do you want schools that are in walking distance? Do you want to be close to your place of employment? Do you want to be close to shopping, restaurants, and other services?
You can swoop into a neighborhood you desire and learn about property values from your cell phone.
Heck, even with all the neat Internet real estate tools out there, 1 out of 5 people find the eventual home they purchase by driving by it. That's over 1,500,000 people a year that buy a home they first saw and found themselves by driving through a neighborhood. Then of course most bounce the idea of their Realtor, and a home is bought!
In the below article, Michele Dawson, writing for realtytimes.com, gives you tips for what to think about as you walk and drive around new neighborhoods.
Her advice is the same process followed by all real estate savvy pro's and should be heeded.
She says by all means use the Internet-- but then get off your butt and do your homework in the neighborhood.
Talk to the neighbors, police, visit the schools etc.
The more you know the better deal you will get! Seems obvious...but there are enlightening tibits that can be discovered in any neighborhood. You would be surprised what a nosey neighbor knows about the place you are thinking about buying! Heck, sometimes meeting the neighbors is a real eye opening experience in its own right ;).
Find The Perfect Neighborhood.
How to scout out the best place to call home
By Michele Dawson
Once you've become pre-qualified for a loan, you should be ready to put your house-hunting efforts into full gear. But don't skip the important step of scouting out neighborhoods before you start your search for the perfect house.
The neighborhood in which you live will heavily dictate your whole way of lifeÂthings like walking to a nearby park with your kids, knowing your kids are attending good schools, feeling safe when your children play outdoors, being close to restaurants and shopping, enjoying a short commute, and knowing your home will appreciate at a healthy rate.
Of course one way to get started in your neighborhood search is to get in your car and explore, especially if you're unfamiliar with the area. Get an idea about the neighborhoods by driving around and seeing which areas appeal to you. Walk around, explore, and talk to some of the residents.
Take note of the general appearance of the homes. Are they well maintained? Are they nicely landscaped?
If you have children, you might be looking for a neighborhood with plenty of children around, as opposed to neighborhoods that attract more seniors or young singles.
Other factors you'll want to consider are the schools, crime, your family's specific needs, and appreciation - as in how much the value of the home is likely to increase.
A good Realtor will be very familiar with all the neighborhoods in the area and should be able to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of the specific neighborhoods you're eyeing.
The School District
Even if you don't have school-aged children, buying a home in a district with good schools will be in your best interest. When and if you sell the home at some point in the futurfutureure buyers with children will likely consider good schools their top priority. And neighborhoods with good schools typically attract more buyers. Ask your Realtor about information on schools in the area.
Talk to people in the neighborhood, especially people with children. Standardized test scores are also available on the Internet.
Visit the schools and take a tour if you have children. It's important that your decision isn't based purely through facts gathered online. Get a true feeling for what the school is like.
Crime Statistics
No one wants to live in a neighborhood where break-ins and burglary are the norm. There are web sites that can provide you with statistics on crime and other information pertinent to your search.
Talk to neighbors.
Take note if there are bars on the windows and doors of homes.
Talk to the police or sheriff's department.
Check for gang graffiti on walls and walkways.
Keep in mind that if you're looking in-town, you may not be able to get away from everything you consider unappealing (such as noise and traffic).
Keep Your Family in Mind
A home isn't just an investment when you have a family to think of. You'll need to consider more than just the number of bedrooms or whether it has an attached garage. You'll need to consider the community first and foremost. Do you want schools that are in walking distance? Do you want to be close to your place of employment? Do you want to be close to shopping, restaurants, and other services?
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