When buying a new home, we all know it’s all about location, location, location! But under the current #SafeAtHome order, it may be a bit more challenging to determine which neighborhood is best for you and your family. Luckily, there are enough online tools that when combined with virtual detective work can help you learn a lot about your potential new neighborhood without leaving your home.
Here are some resources to help you navigate your online neighborhood evaluation:
Connect with a real estate agent
Everyone becomes a real estate expert (or thinks that they are!) when house hunting, but keep in mind that your real estate agent is just that, and you should use the knowledge and resources that they provide. Or, if you’ve identified a home you’re interested in, contact the listing agent for more information about the neighborhood. As a real estate professional, they can help you evaluate the neighborhood with an insider’s perspective on the area and extensive knowledge of homes there.
Check out the schools
Particularly if you are moving to an entirely new area, you will want to have a good picture of the quality of schools. Even if you don’t have kids, the school system can have a significant impact on your home as an investment. Check out GreatSchools or Niche for data on K-12 schools and reviews from parents.
Dive into the data
You want to gather as much information as possible on your potential new neighborhood, and there are a variety of websites that provide data on neighborhoods and communities to help you evaluate them.
City-Data provides detailed city profiles about everything from the cost-of-living to weather to average home prices, and its forums give useful insight from community locals. Similarly, websites such as Crime Mapping can provide crime data from law enforcement agencies.
Engage with local groups on social media
An active neighborhood community will oftentimes have social media groups that connect residents. These can provide information on local events and activities that will give you a better feel for the neighborhood, and provide a forum for you to ask questions of those who already live there.
Check the maps
Want to take a stroll around your potential new neighborhood without leaving the couch? Google Street View is a great way to virtually ‘walk’ the street and neighborhood. Many online real estate listings include a link to the Google Street View for that address. Get a feel for the traffic in the neighborhood as well as your potential work commute with Waze.
These simple tips can help you evaluate or test drive your neighborhood, and Ohio Real Title can help you navigate your real estate closing transaction. Contact us today.