| As mentioned in part one of this mini series, | | | | requirements for individuals and businesses. |
| there are a number of important issues | | | | |
| revolving around buying or selling a home | | | | CRIME: Talk to the local police department |
| that agents can’t, won’t or | | | | and ask specific questions related to crime |
| don’t tell you about because of certain | | | | levels, type of crime, national and state |
| discrimination laws and/or the fact that | | | | rankings, etc and any other information |
| these issues can be deal killers. Knowing | | | | relevant to your needs. You may even be able |
| about these issues could have a drastic | | | | to research specific information on your own |
| effect on your willingness to buy a property | | | | using the Internet for statistical data |
| and agents just aren’t going to raise | | | | |
| these issues because raising them could | | | | WALK THE MARKET: Last but not least, get out |
| result in reduced commissions or no sale at | | | | and walk the neighborhood through the day and |
| all. If you have not read part one of this | | | | come back at night… late night say, |
| series, I strongly suggest you do so to help | | | | around midnight, and drive around…. |
| protect your legal and financial interests. | | | | What do you see? Does the market area look |
| Consider: | | | | thuggish? What kinds of cars are in the |
| | | | driveway? What about surrounding neighbor |
| ENVIRONMENT: They say one of the most | | | | hoods within a mile radius? Neighborhoods |
| important aspects of home buying is location, | | | | can drift quickly and what looks like a nice |
| location, location, right? I humbly submit | | | | area can be overrun with blight fairly |
| to you that behind that is environment, | | | | quickly from adjacent problem areas. |
| environment, and environment! You can check | | | | |
| the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for | | | | The point of these two articles is to |
| all kinds of information in the target market | | | | highlight the impact the environment |
| you are looking at before you make a purchase | | | | surrounding a home can have on present and |
| you may end up regretting. | | | | future property values. Knowing about sexual |
| | | | predators, the quality of the school systems, |
| DEMOGRAPHICS: Agents don’t like to talk | | | | EPA violations, crime levels and market |
| specifics about this with people for | | | | demographics can have a huge impact on your |
| discrimination reasons… so how do you | | | | real estate investment decision making. |
| find out the demographics of a market? Check | | | | |
| out U.S. Census Bureau- Quick Facts The | | | | Best of success! |
| Census Bureau has a treasure trove of good | | | | |
| information covering a wide range of data | | | | Copyright © 2007 James W. |