Keys for finding the right neighborhood

Maximize Your Time and Commission Incentive. Here are key points to be sure this is the right neighborhood for you.

1. Drive by the home to confirm the home and the neighborhood are what you expect.
2. Use Google maps to view the property to see what you might miss in your drive by. Location Issues can be a challenge for resale.
3. Go to the city planning division and see what is in store for the vacant lands around the home. The same goes with what they are planning for the next 3-10 years.
4. If you want to know if there are a lot of kids in the neighborhood show up around time for the school buses.
5. Drive the route you would take to work the times you would be leaving and coming home. Sometimes 1-2 miles make a 45-minute difference!
6. Go to the area and have dinner in local restaurants, go shopping and check out the parks nearby.
7. Go to www.realtor.com and turn on the crime searching option for the homes you like. See what the area is trending in terms of active crime.
8. Go to www.greatschools.org and search the schools in the area to see real parents’ reviews and the national ranking of the school plus their score. Know that anything under a 7 could hurt your resale value.
9. Go to the building department online for the county and see if permits were pulled if the pictures show any renovations done or additions added after the home was built. You can double-check the roof, HVAC, etc there too!
10. Go to the closest two grocery stores and see your neighbors. This is who you will be shopping with and what families live in the area.
11. How fast can you get to the hospital? To the airport? Are you comfortable with the distance?