What To Look For In A Neighborhood When Buying – Fridays with Fred

Neighborhood Safety

Thanks to the Internet it’s now easier than ever before to research a neighborhood online and review crime reports for the area, from the comfort of your home.

Besides looking up crime statistics online it’s important to drive and walk in the area that you plan on buying a home, during the day, and during the night, because, your “gut instinct” will go a long way in letting you know if you feel safe in a certain neighborhood or not.

Schools

If you have a family, you will most likely want to send your children to schools in the area. Take the time to research those schools online by reviewing their websites and also looking for feedback by parents who have children that have gone to school in the area.

Census Reports

Neighborhood safety and schools are important but so are overall statistics including: the average income of homeowners in the area, which jobs are nearby and economic growth of city or town. You can find plenty of census reports online simply by using your favorite search engine then typing in the keywords “census report” or “market data” followed by the name of the neighborhood that you would like to buy a home in.

What Is The Condition Of The Neighborhood?

As part of your effort to inspect the neighborhood for safety, you should also inspect the overall condition of homes in the area.

When inspecting area homes you should be asking yourself these questions:

• Have homes in the neighborhood been recently updated?
• Do the homes in this neighborhood look rundown and not maintained?

• Is there a general pride of ownership in the neighborhood?

Another aspect of verifying if a certain neighborhood is a good place to buy a home or not is to talk with your top Orange County Realtor or listing agent in your area about market values for homes in the area.

A home should always be looked at as a long-term investment first above anything else and if the neighborhood isn’t the best, a homes value over time will be affected.

To learn more tips about what to look for in a neighborhood or to view the latest Orange County homes for sale, contact Fred Sed & Associates today by calling (949) 272-0125.