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