Local Records Office: Questions to Ask Neighbors Before Buying A Home

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Buying a home is a huge purchase, and where you buy will have a significant impact on your quality of life. Before you sign on the dotted line, you need to make sure that the area your dream home is in is a dream neighborhood, as well. Talking to the neighbors is a great way to get a feel for what you’ll be moving. According to the team at Local Records Office, there are a number of factors about a neighborhood that will play a role in your decision to move there, from the crime rate to the neighborhood demographics to the property history. If you can manage to strike up a conversation with a neighbor, there are a number of questions to ask them.

 

How Long Have You Lived Here?

This is the first question you should ask the neighbors. If they tell you they just moved in a week ago, you should thank them and politely move on-they clearly have not been in the area long enough to give you an accurate representation of what living there is like. Ideally, you want to talk to neighbors who have lived in the area for at least few years.

 

What Do You Like Best About the Neighborhood?

Obviously, you want to know the positives about living in the neighborhood. Asking this question may bring up unexpected answers, like how the whole neighborhood gets together to dress up and hand out candy on Halloween, or how one neighbor always hosts a party every Christmas Eve. Additionally, you should ask them about the surrounding area, and how they feel about the proximity to schools, grocery stores, and so on.

 

What Do You Like Least About the Neighborhood?

This is an important question. You may be surprised how much people are willing to tell you. Remember, these neighbors are not invested in whether or not the house sells, so they can be honest with you. If you’re not getting answer you think are sufficient, or if they can’t come up with anything on the spot, ask them more specific questions, like if the neighborhood recently.

 

How Is the Home Owners Association?

Almost all neighborhoods have a HOA, and some are stricter than others. The HOA will play a big part in your life as a member of the community, especially if you’re planning on making changes to the house. Some neighborhoods have extremely strict rules regarding nonconformity, meaning that you may not be able to paint the way you want, or put up that decorative mailbox. Other HOAs have rules concerning lawn care, fences, or even Christmas lights. Figure out how strict the HOA is in that neighborhood, and decide whether or not their rules will fit your lifestyle.

 

What Are the Neighbors Like?

Are the neighbors social? Do they keep to themselves? What is their average age? Do you majority of them have young children? Do the neighbors get along with each other? All of these factors will play a role in whether or not the neighborhood is the right fit for you.

All of these questions, and more, will play a role in your decision to move in to a new neighborhood. If the neighbor’s answers did not paint a full enough picture for you, or if you want more information on the area, a property report from Local Records Office can give you more concrete information regarding the neighborhood, including the information on crime rates, schools, and more.