Today’s South Florida housing market leaves buyers sorting through handfuls of properties. If selecting one home from hundreds of properties is a daunting task, imagine doing so from another city.
But you can narrow the selection, down to which the street gets morning sun and has the last school bus stop, by getting to know the neighborhood like the back of your hand before you buy.
One of “The Donald’s” top-rated real estate advisors, Phoebe Chongchua, and author of many real-estate lifestyle books, says studying the 'hood is key to investing well.
Checking crime statistics as well as accident reports at the local police department - no matter how well-maintained the area is - will help you determine whether the area is at your comfort level.
Chongchua said investigating traffic issues and school systems are also an indication of whether your investment will be safe. She states that actually living too close to a busy school with large traffic backups can negatively affect resale opportunities.
Other tell-tale signs of established, upwardly-mobile neighborhoods include the number of homes being renovated or updated (are neighbors sticking around), the types of stores at local malls (trendy boutiques versus dollar stores), landscape and amenities at neighboring communities (is the community you’re looking at the norm, or a fluke). Some communities, such as The Ridges in Weston also post information on regular community-wide updates, or standards, letting you know how frequently or how extensively HOA-related activity ripples.
Many cities also offer specific information on their websites about youth sports and family activities, such as Weston and Davie, which accurately frame priorities in that area.
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