If you’re unsure what to expect from a new neighborhood, your agent can help.
Your agent knows where the local schools are, and he or she can provide you with valuable information about school districts, including test scores, extracurricular activities, bus service and more. If you’re relocating, an agent may even be able to put you in touch with teachers and principals when you visit the area. And if you want to do a little searching on your own, the Internet may also be a good place to start.
Your agent also knows where to shop, eat, and find the kind of lifestyle you’re seeking.
To find out if a home you’re looking at is priced well, you can:
- Check out public records in that neighborhood—you can get all the information you want about recent sales, including prices and listing times, by calling the County Recorder of Deeds.
- Ask your real estate agent. If you’re interested in a particular home, an agent may be able to provide you with a list of comparables—sale prices of homes in your area that are roughly the same size and age as the home you’re considering. Although there will certainly be some differences between the homes—the house next door may have an extra bedroom, or the one down the block may be older than the one you’re looking at— it’s a good way to evaluate the seller’s asking price.Find The Right Neighborhood