How to Research the Crime Rate of a Neighborhood Before Buying

If you're moving to an area you aren't familiar with, it is important to find out what the crime level is before you get your heart set on the perfect home. There are a few different ways to go about it, all of which are worth looking into as a whole.

One website that offers great information on the level of safety in any given area is NeighborhoodScout.com. You can enter in the city of interest and it will break the website will down the area you've chosen and show you the percentile of quality neighborhood you're looking at. This is a great source to take the first step into locating the best places to live.

You can also contact your local Sheriff's office and ask them to give you information on the crime level of of a specific area, or city. They may be able to provide you with the latest statistics and just give you their general opinion. They often know outright if there are more, or less crimes reported and can steer you in the right direction with a more knowledgeable, impartial opinion than any other form of guidance you can receive.

Now narrow your search down by driving around all the neighborhoods. At that time, you can see how well kept the other homes are, if there's graffiti, people screaming, loud music, or other issues. It's best to cruise the neighborhood in the mid to late afternoon, when there are likely to be more people outside, so you can see what it's like during the most active hours.

Last and most effective is to go up to the people you see outside and talk to them. Find someone who looks like a homeowner or renter if possible, let them know you've been thinking about moving nearby and ask them how happy they've been living on their street. Many people are happy to tell you if they feel safe, how much crime they've seen, or heard about, and will often give you advice on what areas are the quietest.

Another concern is that the neighborhood seems good now, but might get worse in the next 10 years. One way to get a glimpse into the future is to look into the schools, even if you don't have children. Schools that have the higher test scores and lowest crime often have superior teaching system, and better parents living locally.

Susan is a real estate agent in the Antelope Valley. She considers the best part of her job to be showing Lancaster and Palmdale homes. She also enjoys writing, reading, learning, and helping clients buy and sell homes in Palmdale.

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