| Once you have saved enough money and is now | | | | place do not have a safe neighborhood, the local |
| ready to buy a house; the very first thing that you | | | | economy on that place is going down, or it could mean |
| need to check when you already have a location in | | | | that a lot of people do not want to live there for some |
| mind is if it is safe. If the neighborhood is good and | | | | reason. Either way, a lot of empty house inspires a lot |
| safe for you, your properties and for your family. This | | | | of bad things like vandalism, using the empty houses |
| kind of information is something that you cannot just | | | | for illegal activities and other negative things. You need |
| ask to your real estate agent because they can only | | | | to understand that you cannot just focus on the |
| give you a general information about the neighborhood. | | | | property that you want to buy but also consider the |
| Your real estate agent cannot really tell you if the | | | | area and neighborhood where the house stands. |
| neighborhood is good, friendly and safe. The reason | | | | 2. Tousled Properties - Check the lawns of the people |
| behind that is because your real estate agent is | | | | in the area, check also if most of the houses are |
| subjected to fair housing laws which prohibits them on | | | | well-maintained or not, Look if the fences are still intact |
| giving detailed information about the neighborhood. | | | | or not. These indications strongly suggests that the |
| What you need to do is make time and investigate the | | | | neighborhood is heading for a downturn and it is not a |
| neighborhood for yourself. Use first the most | | | | place you want to live in. |
| convenient and available resources that you like the | | | | 3. Overall Look of the neighborhood - Check for |
| internet. check the comments, reviews of other people | | | | sanitation, if there are a lot of junk and garbage on the |
| regarding the neighborhood where the property you | | | | surrounding areas. Check also the street lamps and |
| want to buy is in. Check for any discussions regarding | | | | see if the lights are broken and the bulbs have been |
| that specific neighborhood and join in on that discussion | | | | busted. Observe also if there are a lot of vandalized |
| over the internet. Once you have an idea of the | | | | properties both private and public properties. If most of |
| neighborhood confirm it by driving on the neighborhood | | | | these things are present on that area, then it is a very |
| and keenly observe the surroundings and talk to the | | | | clear indication that, that place is not good for your |
| people there in order to have a better look and | | | | investment. |
| experience on the neighborhood. | | | | 4. Check the schools - Take time to visit and check |
| Like for example you have seen a property at San | | | | the school grounds and talk to some teachers and |
| Marcos homes for sale, then go there and check not | | | | professors there. Check and observe the attitude of |
| just the property but the neighborhood itself. Be very | | | | the students as this will affect and influence your kids. |
| observant so that you can see and not overlook on | | | | No one really knows how a place would turn out and |
| some things that will give you hints if the neighborhood | | | | what will happen on a certain city or state. However, |
| is what you have hoped for or not. | | | | checking and knowing the signs if the neighborhood is |
| 1. Look for empty houses - If there are a lot of empty | | | | going downhill is very important so that you can avoid |
| houses on the neighborhood chances are there is | | | | investing and buying a property on a place that you |
| something wrong with the place. A lot of empty | | | | might want to get out some time soon. |
| houses can mean several negative things such as the | | | | |