Friday, February 08, 2008
by Marie Otis, Realtor
I hear this phrase all the time. Of course, all of us want to feel safe and secure in our neighborhoods. However, your Realtor cannot legally determine what a safe neighborhood is for you. Under the Federal Fair Housing Laws it is unlawful for a real estate professional to do anything that is discriminatory. Discrimination, under the law, on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, handicap or family status is prohibited.
I would be breaking the law if I steered you away from a neighborhood where you could afford the houses and where there were houses that met your requirements. So what can you do? You need to determine what kind of neighborhood you wish to live in. Do you want the pulsating rhythms of a downtown street, a suburban neighborhood with lots of children, or perhaps a country lane with no neighbors in sight?
After you decided what kind of neighborhood is best for you, the next thing to do is spend some time in a neighborhood. Take note of traffic patterns (both vehicle and pedestrian) at various times of the day. This will also give you an idea of whether there are plenty of school age children in the neighborhood to play with yours. Or perhaps you’re looking for a neighborhood with more mature residents if that is your requirement.
What can I do for you in this matter? I can supply you with information on local schools, average test scores, class sizes and numbers of students going on to college. I can give you information on parks, hiking trails, restaurants, shops, etc. If you are interested in crime statistics I can direct you to appropriate websites for information. I can give you the information but the decision of what constitutes a good neighborhood is solely your decision.
I love for you to comment on this subject. Let me know if I can help. Email me a Marie.Otis@cbshome.com or give me a call at 402-697-4251.