Atlanta Real Estate-Atlanta Homes for Sale-REMAX Georgia-Alpharetta GA

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.

Make a list of the activities movies, health club, church you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you're considering to engage in your most common activities.

Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you're considering. Even if you don't have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.

Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type burglaries, armed robberies and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area? And don't forget environmental safety too - a source for local pollution information is www.scorecard.org.

Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don't necessarily diminish value, but do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?

See if you'll make money. Ask a local REALTOR or call the local REALTOR Association to get information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. A REALTOR or the government planning agency may also be able to tell you about planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood like a new school or highway that might affect value.

See for yourself. Once you've narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside.

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Deciding to Buy a Home

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Selecting an Agent

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5 Reasons You Need a Real Estate Agent
How to Select the Best Buyer's Agent
Realtors Code of Ethics

Choosing the Right Home

10 Questions to Ask Your Condo Board
How High Tech is Your Home?
The Pros and Cons of Condos
Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
Your Property Wish List

Financing

10 Questions to Ask Your Lender
10 Things a Lender Needs From You
5 Factors that Decide Your Credit Score
6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home
8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order
8 Ways to Improve Your Credit
Budget Basics Worksheet
Choices That Will Affect Your Loan
Common Closing Costs for Buyers
How Big a Mortgage Can I Afford?

Inspections

10 Questions to Ask a Home Inspector
What Your Home Inspection Should Cover
What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-Through

Taxes and Insurance

10 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs
5 Property Tax Questions You Need to Ask
5 Things to Understand About Homeowners Insurance
5 Things to Understand About Title Insurance
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Miscellaneous

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