Shows like House Hunters will make you think that the only thing you need to do before you move is to fall in love with one of three homes. Sure, loving the layout of your home or the community amenities is important but there are some other facts you need to look at for any house you are interested in.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of facts that I simply cannot tell you for various reasons including the Fair Housing Act and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. While I can't give you the direct answers to various questions, I can guide you to the resources you need to look at before we put your signature on an offer.
There are definitely a lot of facts that I can give you and certainly will.
Let's have a look at the facts I think are important when you buy a property here in Naples.
Look at the Crime Statistics
This is one of the facts of the area that I cannot tell you under the Fair Housing Act because it could be taken as steering. However, there are some great ways to learn about the safety of the neighborhood.
First, check out SpotCrime. This is a great resource that gives you a snapshot of recent crimes in a given area. The map is clear, easy to read, and updated often.
Second, have a look at your Sheriff's office website. Most will provide a list of crime as well as reports showing annualized statistics.
Do Any Sex Offenders Live in the Neighborhood?
This is the number one question I am asked when talking about a potential purchase in a neighborhood. While I cannot tell you the answer to this question (which is very frustrating for me), I can give you the link to the Florida Sex Offender Registry. Type in your address and a list will be generated with the names, pictures, and crime committed.
How is the Neighborhood Secured?
I will be the first to tell you that there are a number of gated communities where the gate serves no purpose but to make the owners feel secure when the neighborhood is truly wide-open. I've seen plenty of neighborhoods where there's a big gate yet you can literally walk through the bushes surrounding the neighborhood and have instant access. The flip side of that coin is that I've been in very secure neighborhoods that have fencing or walls surrounding the neighborhood and a gate that can't be bypassed.
Who Built This Home?
Not all builders are created equally. In fact, there are a number of builders I simply would not buy from due to the quality of their homes that I've seen. Ask this question and I can certainly answer and give you my opinion on their quality. Even better, I can take you to a home built by a builder you're considering and then show you some of their competition. In many cases, we won't see a difference but there are certainly times where you'll thank me!
What are the School Rankings For This Neighborhood?
I can't answer this question either. But, there are 3 things you should look at when schools are important to you.
Check out Niche.com
Niche.com is a great site that gives you school rankings and even has a place for parents to rank the school and give their reasons for recommending the school. Have a look at this page for Seacrest Country Day School.
View Your School Grades on the District Website
Collier County Public Schools publishes school rankings. This report (PDF link) shows the grades over time for every school in the district.
What Specialty Programs are Offered?
Many of our schools have specialty programs. If you have a child that has special needs, these programs can be a fantastic resource. Check out the Collier County School District's page on Exceptional Student Education.
What Else Can a Buyer Do Before Making an Offer?
Once you've exhausted the resources above, there are some very easy things you can do to check out a neighborhood further.
Join the Neighborhood Facebook Group
Most neighborhoods these days will have a Facebook group that you can join. These groups can be a treasure trove of information about how owners feel about their neighborhood. You can learn about how board meetings went, what projects are coming up and see what contentious topics pop up. Just search for the name of the neighborhood in Facebook's search bar and join!
Take a Drive Through the Neighborhoods at Different Times
Are you wondering if there are a lot of kids in the neighborhood? Just drive by on a school day and look at the bike rack where the school bus picks the kids up. There are some neighborhoods where there are more bikes than you can imagine! Maybe you want to see how active the community is. Are the tennis courts empty every time you drive by? Have a look!
What Percent of Homes are Occupied by Renters?
Odd question, right? This is an important statistic that could affect your resale value down the road. If a neighborhood has too many renters, many lenders will not lend. I've also had customers feel that renters do not take care of a neighborhood as well as owners do. Whether that is true or not, this is a question that I can answer for you.
Did I Miss Anything We Should Research?
Have a great resource to check before buying? Do you have a topic that needs to be discussed before you sign an offer? Let me know!
