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Moving to a New Home? Use These Websites and Apps to Research Potential Neighborhoods Relocating to a new city? Thinking about moving to a new neighborhood? While word of mouth from friends and family is valuable, sometimes it’s necessary to get a different perspective.

With the advancement of technology, it’s now possible to research new neighborhoods without getting up off the couch. Here are some websites and apps that have proven invaluable with researching new areas:

Use The Forums On City-Data For Exact Answers

While city-data.com is a valuable resource for people who are looking into relocating to a different city, one of the best uses of the site is the active forums. Here, locals will answer questions about different cities to help narrow down the selection.

Track Specific Neighborhoods With Street Advisor

Once the city is narrowed down, a quick visit to Streetadvisor.com will give a better overview of the different areas. The website is designed to provide visitors the opportunity to review entire communities instead of single businesses. All neighborhoods in a city are ranked based on how well the users have rated them.

Take A Look At The Numbers At Neighborhood Scout

Now that reviews have been read and questions have been answered, people can take a trip to neighborhoodscout.com to get a look at the numbers that define communities. Some details require a subscription, but anybody interested in the crime rate, sex offender registry or appreciation rate of property should join the site.

Get A Unique Perspective With Ratings Apps

There are plenty of apps for phones and tablets that are used to rate restaurants and businesses. Popular choices like Yelp and Foursquare can give a different perspective of what locals think about the businesses in their neighborhoods. Do the local diners get high marks or are people driving across the city for brunch? How are the parks in the area received? These questions can be answered with these apps.

While you can do a lot of preliminary research on your own, sometimes the best person to contact about new neighborhoods is a real estate professional. They will be able to tell you which areas are heating up and which areas should be avoided and help narrow down choices if you’re undecided. Contact one who operates out of the neighborhood you’re thinking about buying in so that you can work with a local who has experience in the area.

Real Estate Investing: 3 Secrets of Successful Home Buyers That You Can Use Today While making a real estate purchase can be a matter rife with many questions, buying to invest in a long-term property can be even more confusing. If you’re looking into investing in real estate and wondering what variables to consider, here are a few tips that you’ll want to keep in mind before deciding on a fruitful investment property.

Be Aware Of The Market You’re Buying Into

Since you’ll need to be aware of what other people are looking for in a property if you’re diving into real estate to invest, you’ll want to carefully consider the neighborhood and city that you’re buying in and think about what the future holds. While becoming knowledgeable about home prices in the area you’re thinking of buying is a must, you’ll also want to think about market projections, trendy new neighborhoods and what the appeal will be to renters or buyers of the home you’re contemplating.

Consider A Diamond In The Rough

It might seem like a home that is a little rough around the edges is going to be a high-maintenance endeavor that doesn’t balance out in the end, but a fixer upper of a place may be end up being the best option. While you may need to renovate a little here and there to unearth some of its natural features, improvements to a home with a good structure in a good neighborhood can be more economical than spending more on a home that instantly appeals. It can also provide a better return on your investment in the long-term.

Stay Within Your Spending Means

When considering an investment property, it can be quite easy to get derailed and think about what you’ll be making instead of the expenditure of the initial investment. However, it’s important to determine beforehand that what you’re choosing to afford is going to be manageable in case you have to swing it on your own. By determining whether or not it’s an affordable expense, you can have a successful investment that will balance out in your favor at the end of the day without having to worry about sinking beneath the cost.

There are many questions that can come along with choosing to invest in real estate, but by carefully considering the market and keeping your purchase at a reasonable price point, you may have a long-term moneymaker on your hands.

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