Sunday, November 15, 2009

Finding a Safe Neighborhood:

By Pierre Levingston

No one wants to live in a neighborhood that is riddled with crime activity. When searching for a neighborhood there is more to consider than just how big your home will be. You have to feel that the neighborhood is safe.

The safety of your neighborhood will dictate how you and your family spend your time with day to day activities. Will you be comfortable walking to the park with your children, or feel safe with your children playing outside? These types of questions can help you decide on what neighborhoods work best for you.

The first step you can do in securing a safe neighborhood is investigating the crime rate in the area. There are websites available online to check the crime data from your neighborhood, according to zip codes. You can also ask a police officer some general information about the safety of certain neighborhoods in the area.

Your Realtor can be a great tool. Use your realtor for information about the different strengths and weaknesses of the areas you are looking in to. Your realtor will be familiar with the statistics and know which areas are more safe.

Get in your car and explore the neighborhood yourselves. Drive during the day and at night to see what areas appeal to you. Do this several different times to see what activities are going on in that part of the city.

Find out if there are any sex offenders in the area. Many websites provide information about where sex offenders live and work. See if there are any in your area, and how close they will be to your neighborhood and schools.

Speak to the neighbors in the neighborhood you are looking into. Residents can often have more information than the general statistics websites provide. They may be able to tell you more specific information to help you in your neighborhood search and tell you which streets may be a little more risky.

Research the school districts of the area. There are several websites that include information on the school, such as school ratings, reports, and standardized test scores. You can even stop by the schools and take a tour with your children to get a feel for the school.

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