Buying a home is a big investment of time, money and emotions. It can be a dauntless task without the best guidance possible and assistance available to you. So go ahead, and ask questions of your agent if something is of concern to you. Maybe your question or concern is not something that most other people would ask. I say ask anyway- you are spending thousands of dollars and you have every right. A few things to consider are:
Resale statistics- What are the resale statistics for the last 10 years for the house, (if it has been sold receently), the street, the neighborhood, and the town? Compare them and see how that home stacks up.
How recession proof is the neighborhood?Is the neighborhood transient? More sales activity on any given street, and homeowners moving in and moving out in a few years rather than the national average of seven years could be a positive thing, or a negative one. If the homeowners all tend to work at one company, and that company isn't doing well for example, then there may be a lot of layoffs, and home sales at distressed values. That could hurt your resale for years. If the neighborhod is considered transient, it could be 1) that it is a starter neighborhood (no issues) or, 2) It could be a lot of executives choose the location for its proximity to transportation and they get transferred (no issues), but that doesn;t always mean that a transient neighborhood is a safe investment. Just ask your agent to give you statistics, and be prepared to stay there emotionally and monetarily if a recession hits.
Public School rankings- Very important even if you don't have any children, or any children in school. When you decide to sell the home, buyers always ask for the best school districts. If at all possible, look for a house in that district. It may not make a difference to you now, but when you sell, you will get more of a premium for your home because of it.
Where are the sought after streets, and why? Every town or city has those few streets that have that "je ne se quios". Find out which streets they are- and why, if you can. I can think of a few streets in every town that just say "YOU MADE IT", and others are well known for neighborhood activities. The homes on those streets tend to sell quicker and for more money, so be on alert.
What streets have traditionally had less than average re-sale value? You know they exist- think about a street right now in the town where you live, and people grimace when the name of that street comes up. That very good deal on that house in the town that you want to live in could be a very good deal because of that! Also take note, that some neighborhoods have natural boundary lines, and if you want to live within that neighborhood, that across the street from that boundary line is not considered in that neighborhood. I can think of areas in cities where one side of the street is considered okay, and the other side IS NOT. Check into it!
Neighborhood ambience. Does the neighborhood have the same feel throughout, or does it change down the street. If so, why? Do certain homes stick out as being absolutely perfect, while others look like they are unkempt? Pay attention to the neighborhood, and that brings me to my next point.
Does the neighborhood have a different feel from day to night, or weekday to weekend? There are neighborhoods that I, personally, wouldn't venture into after 8PM at night. If that's the case, I won't take you there in the day to look at a home. Some neighborhoods change at night, and that change may not be to your standards, so it is important to see for yourself.
Where are the parks, shopping, restaurants, health and town facilities. Well maybe you don't care too much about the parks for yourself, but it only helps resale value if you are close- just not too close. You might wnat to know if the nearest grocer closes at six PM, and doesn't have as much stock as you would like. Walk in clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies are important too. Nowadays, there are usually walk in clinics in most towns that we all hope that you don't need, but you have to think about that. You should also be able to find 24 hour pharmacies in somewhat close proximity. And where are the fire hydrants on your street, how close are they to your home, where is the nearest fire department, what's their response time, and where is the Police department. Lots of research, I know. Better done sooner than later when it's too late.
Crime rate for the neighborhood, as well as for the house itself. Check into the crime rate for the neighborhood. As an agent, I am unable to tell you this, however I can reer you to the Police Department and you can ask yourself. You may want to ask for the history of any crimes reported at the house, as well. If a violent offender lived at the house previously, someone exacting revenge on that person may not know they no longer live there. Might it be a good idea for you to check that out? I think so. You may also want to check the sex offender registry to see if anyone on that list lives on your street or nearby. If you have a question about poltergeists, or psychological impacts on the home, see my previous post on that here.
I am happy to help you through your buying process, and make it as easy as possible. Just look at some testimonials from past clients. They say it better than I ever could.
... and when you are ready to buy a home, please contact me :)