6 Keys For Getting to Know a Neighborhood Long Distance
Some of the most important things about a home do not necessarily have anything to do with the house itself. At the top of many buyer’s lists are things like schools, safety, activities and community; some of these items are more important than square footage. How can you possibly know if a neighborhood is the place for you without spending time there? In this week’s #ProTipTuesday we will give you a 6 ways to get to know what a neighborhood is really like without ever visiting.
- Hire a local realtor who knows the area!
The Stahl & Stahl Group grew up in Jacksonville. We learned how to ride a bike on these streets, have played sports here our whole lives, got our first jobs, moved into our first apartments, went to college, had first dates, anniversaries, have gone to church, movies, dinners and started a life right here in these neighborhoods. It is hard to beat a collective 50 years of daily life in the Jacksonville area.
- What is this neighborhood really like?
Driving through a neighborhood and approaching a friendly resident might be the best way to get the real scoop, but it can be pretty awkward and intimidating; not everyone is a people person. There is an easier way, the website “Neighborhood Scout” can give you a quick brief of most neighborhoods in Jacksonville. Some have more notable things than others. They have additional layers that are subscription based but a quick search of their “Scout it” tool will reveal some accurate insights into many First Coast communities.
- How “Walkable” is the neighborhood?
This is a term that wouldn’t have been heard a few years ago, but real estate industry is a buzz with walkability. You can enter an address or street in the search bar on the “Walk Score” website to get the walkability score. If you aren’t familiar, this refers to how easy daily life can be accomplished on foot. The higher the score the less you will need to rely on other forms of transportation. Jacksonville is generally a city of commuters but there are more and more enclaves where a bike is all you would need.
- How are the schools?
Greatschools.org gives you a detailed description of the quality of schools in a specific area. Topics include a break down of the performance of specific groups based on economic and cultural categories. The site also includes reviews from staff, parents and students. This is a unique perspective that is hard to find even when you are in the area, even more so if you are moving from out of town. This insight is lost in a simple letter rating from the state, based on test scores.
- Is this area safe?
“The JSO crime mapping program” will show you when, where and what crime has happened in a specific area. You can filter for time out to 4 weeks, and location out to 2 miles from a specific address. Different icons represent different classes of crime. The little blue masked bandit is the one to look out for, those are generally violent crimes. Additionally, “Family Watchdog” will show you if there are any registered sex offenders in the area, who they are, what they look like and the category of crime they were convicted of.
- What is there to do around here?
Yelp can help you here, but the best way I have found is to try different places out. Jacksonville is quickly becoming a foodie town. There are many dining options, from fancy to food truck we either have it or will soon. Live entertainment options are increasing every day due in part to the opening of Daily’s Place near the TIAA Stadium. There are breweries in just about every part of town, if you like craft beer it might take you a while to determine which one is best.
There are obviously other important things about a given house or neighborhood, but this will give you a great place to start looking into all the intangibles. You can filter even the most basic home search by bedrooms, bathrooms and price. What is harder to find is a neighborhood that matches what you want and need. We can help you or you can help yourself with these resources. Let us know what the most important thing is to you when searching for a neighborhood
