Where do I want to live?  Even if you are moving to a new city or moving somewhere in your current city, you might ask this question.  If you are planning on moving there are a few ways to ensure you choose the right neighborhood for your family.

Here are a few suggestions of questions that you might ask yourself about this subject:

• Do I want to live close to where I work?
• Do I want to live in a particular school zone?
• How long do I plan to live in this new house?
• How much do I plan to spend on a new home?
• How much yard do I need?
• Do I need to live in a particular area to be close to family?

If you answer these questions you can narrow down your search of neighborhoods.  Remember, the price range you are looking at will usually determine where you will be able to look for a new home.  Talk to your REALTOR®, use their knowledge. A REALTOR® can tell you the price range of properties in a particular neighborhood.

REALTORS® have been asked many questions about neighborhoods.  Many of the questions we cannot ethically and legally answer.  We cannot answer questions pertaining to race, schools, crime, etc. If we did that, we would be swaying you to a particular area or away from a certain area, and either way that is unethical.

Here are some ways you can get these and many other questions answered about a neighborhood:

• Ride through the neighborhood at different times of the day.
• Call the police department and ask how many times they are called to that neighborhood.
• Go online and check the school zone out or call the local school board.
• Ask friends about a particular area.
• If you want to know about the number of children in an area, you can usually see swing sets and toys around the house.

One thing to remember when looking at neighborhoods is there is usually that one house that hasn’t been kept up like the rest of the neighborhood.  Don’t make your decision based on one house, make a decision based on the entire neighborhood. In the times we live, the circumstances surrounding the “one” house could be due to foreclosure, sickness, or legal issues.

Next time you ask your REALTOR® a particular question and they say they cannot answer, don’t get upset with them. Instead, be understanding of the Code of Ethics they are required to follow. They have been put in place to protect everyone’s interests.  A good REALTOR® will guide you to get your questions answered.