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How to Buy a Great House

SCOUT THE AREA!

It is important that you scout the neighborhood in person. You live in more than your house:

• Talk to people who live there.
• Drive through the entire area at different times of the day, during the week and on weekends.
• Look carefully at how well other homes in the area are being maintained; are they painted, are the yards well cared for; are parked cars in good condition, etc.
  

AREA FACTORS TO CONSIDER --

• Look for things like access to major thoroughfares, highways, and shopping.
• Listen for noise created by commerce, roads, railways, public areas, schools, etc.
• Smell the air for adjacent commerce or agriculture.
• Check with local civic, police, fire, and school officials to find information about the area.
• Research things like soil and water.
• Look at traffic patterns around the area during different times of the day and drive from the area to work.
• Find out if the neighborhood is near parks, churches, recreation centers, shopping, theaters, restaurants, public transportation, schools, etc.
• Find out if the neighborhood belongs to a Homeowner’s Association.