One of the most significant investments you’ll make in your life, will be the home you choose to purchase. The whole process can be quite daunting, especially because there’s a lot of information to sift through. Apart from the fact that you will have to look for a means of financing the investment, you will also have to do a lot of research on the various cities & neighborhoods you’re considering before arriving at a final decision. At every stage of the process you’ll find yourself looking for more information, and while your realtor will certainly have a lot of helpful answers for you, it never hurts to use other online resources as well.
Sometimes, you can get valuable word of mouth information from your family members or even friends. However, this should not be the only way in which you conduct primary research on your prospective neighborhoods.
Technology has greatly advanced and is currently being applied in almost all aspects of life. The real estate industry is no exception when it come to these advances in technology. Currently, you can find useful information on prospective real estate properties not only from websites, but also apps. If you are planning on relocating to a new neighborhood or city, the following websites and apps will provide you with relevant information as you conduct preliminary research.
City-data.com
City-data.com is a great website that provides resourceful information to individuals who are planning on relocating to another city. The website has active forums comprising of locals who reside in the different cities you’re considering. These locals will provide you with exact answers on questions you’ve probably been mulling over. With the answers you get, you can narrow down your selection depending on your preferences.
Streetadvisor.com
After you’ve narrowed down your selection, and decided on a city, you can visit Streetadvisor.com where you will receive even more insight on the different communities you’re considering. This website has been designed specifically to give visitors the opportunity to review a neighborhood in its entirety. The rankings of all the communities in any given city is dependent upon ratings given by the local users.
Neighbourhoodscout.com
After going through the several neighborhood reviews, you have definitely encountered the answers to some of your questions and the next place to visit is neighbourhoodscout.com. Here, you can take a look at the statistics that define and characterize those communities that peaked your interest. There is some information that may require you to subscribe to the site. This will certainly be the case if you are interested in more detailed information such as, appreciation rates and crime rates. All you need to do is set up and account if you’re looking to find some more in-depth answers.
Rating Apps (e.g. Foursquare and Yelp)
There are also several mobile applications that can also provide you with more information. These apps can be easily downloaded onto your tablet or mobile phone. Traditional rating apps can give you access to a significant amount of local ratings on the various businesses that reside within the city you want to relocate to. The most popular apps of course being Foursquare & Yelp which will provide you with information on community events as well as give you access to monthly forums. You can also get useful insight on the quality of services locally provided by a wide range of vendors in the community. These apps can even help provide you with some useful info on the parks that are located in your local area.
It is always possible to do plenty of preliminary research on your own, but sometimes it is advisable to contact a real estate professional. They will be able to provide you with the exact information you need concerning the neighborhoods you’re considering. they will also be able give you insight and answers to other specific questions you may have, such as. Which areas are best suited for your interests as well as those that you should avoid? In the process, you will be able to narrow down your choices and as a result make the best decision possible. Paring these online resources and mobile apps with the local knowledge of a real estate agent will help ensure that you are prepared to make the best purchase you can make.
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