Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood

Your neighborhood has a big impact on your lifestyle. Follow these steps to find the perfect community to call home.

• Is it close to your favorite spots? Make a list of the activities - movies, health club, church, etc. - you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you're considering to engage in your most common activities.

• Check out the school district. This is especially important if you have children, but it also can affect resale value. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, visit schools in the neighborhoods you're considering. Also, check out www.schoolmatters.com.

• Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type - such as burglaries or armed robberies - and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?

• Make personal observations. Once you've narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? How does it feel? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside.

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.


Call Dale Duyan at 702-403-0797 or visit http://www.daleduyan.coldwellbankerwardley.com/ for more information.