A few years ago, it used to be easy to see the difference between a good neighborhood and a not so good one. Pretty much checking out the schools in the area and scanning for abandoned properties would be sufficient. If you were in a good school district and the community was well-kept, then the neighborhood was a keeper.

Now- a-days, choosing a good neighborhood and determining whether or not its value will hold, is another story. The suburbs are now outnumbering urban city centers in terms of paucity; and more often than not, several homes are facing foreclosure.

Choosing a “good” neighborhood when purchasing a home is very important, so what is the best way to tell if you are buying into a reputable area? Here are some things to consider when looking for that picture-perfect community for you and your family:

1. Visualize Your Perfect Neighborhood: Have in mind what you’re looking for in a community. Ask yourself questions like: Would you like to be close to, the city, the country, or maybe a body of water? Do you want a quiet neighborhood or more of a hustle and bustle? What types of families and age groups do you want in your community? Usually it’s more common to imagine your “Dream Home” but knowing what you are looking for in a neighborhood is just as important. Know what you are looking for so you can narrow your search.

2. Look at Public Services: Find out what public services are offered in the area. Look to see what’s available, such as, parks, libraries, or a police station. Often times, if there are few or limited public services in the town, this can indicated possible economic hardship. Even checking to see how clean the streets are or if the parks are well-kept, can be a pretty good sign of financial trouble. 

3. Check out The Schools: If your family has kids, then the excellence of the local schools is among your first concern. Even if you don't have children, it’s a good idea to look into the local schools, because typically the people you will sell your home to will most likely have children. Using sites like www.GreatSchools.org will help you research your choice. Talking with PTA members is a good way to learn inside information about the school and its quality of education. These questions can be relevant to your decision of whether or not to buy in the area.

4. Examine Tell-Tale Signs: There are key signs to look for that can say a lot about a community. For example, check to see if there are a lot of For Sale signs or if there is a considerable amount of cheap apartments for rent. How are the local businesses doing…are they shutting down? These can be tell-tale signs that this area may not be in the up and up. Another good idea is to imagine your everyday life in the neighborhood. Run through your day-to-day routine in your head, and see if you'll still have the same quality of life. Can you see your route to work/school or is there a nice place to grab a cup of coffee in the morning? How noisy is the community? Is there a loud bar or airport in the surrounding area that may inhibit your everyday life that you are currently used to? These are all important things to watch for when you are considering moving into a new neighborhood.

5. Get to Know People: Talk to your prospective neighbors. These could possibly be the people you will be living by for the next several years. It’s important to have considerate neighbors because ultimately they can make or break your experience. So finding more about them and their lifestyle can be extremely important when making a decision. You can always make changes to a house, but changing a neighborhood with bad neighbors is another story. At the end of the day, spending the time and effort to learn about a next door neighbor will be well worth the effort.