Finding the right community


Real estate agents play an important role in helping you find the right community. Whether relocating your family across the United States or buying a new home a mile from your current home or apartment, purchasing a home in the “right” community depends on what you tell your real estate agent. Most people who are moving ask for a new home with specific features (a certain number of bedrooms or bathrooms, etc.) which is located "in a good community." However, it is important to keep in mind that your "good community" can be very different from that of the real estate agent who is helping you find a home. Consider the following tips on finding the “right” community for your real estate purchase and what to tell your real estate agent.

Start with determining how a community meets your lifestyle needs and how "safe" a neighborhood is. We put "safe" in quotations because no community is 100% safe. Your local police department maintains crime statistics from FBI reports and is an excellent source of crime information. Other sources include on-line reports from the FBI and reports from private sources. When evaluating crime statistics, you should consider property crimes versus personal crimes.

Property crimes range from vandalism to burglary. Most communities have some level of history with property crimes, so it is necessary to evaluate the extent of these crimes. Personal crimes range from harassment to homicide. Understandably, most people would not like to live in a community that has a high record of personal crimes. When choosing a neighborhood, consider if you can go out at night with a reasonable level of certainty you wont become a victim of a personal crime. Keep in mind that statistical reports dont always tell the whole story; in urban areas, for example, the distance of a few blocks can make a big difference in how "safe" a community is.

Another consideration is what is your preferred lifestyle and how can your community fulfill those needs. One way to evaluate your lifestyle needs is to make a list of all the activities you like to do in your current community and those youd like to be able to do in your new community. Also write what you dont like about where you live now. Do you like a busy community with lots of activities? Do you like outdoor activities? Is it important to have a variety of restaurants and shopping within a certain distance? Do you like seclusion and quiet? What community public resources do you currently use (schools, community colleges, library, day care, recreation center)? Rank these preferences in order and seek communities that satisfy most of your needs. It doesnt hurt to create a list of resources for each community youre considering. Many times the local city hall will have a packet of community resources. For information on local schools, check out our school information section.

Do your homework in choosing a community. A really nice home in a not-so-nice neighborhood is not necessarily a good investment, but a home in the right community can make your home ownership experience both satisfying and financially rewarding.