Mistake _5. Not Checking Out

First-time and experienced homebuyers sometimes fall into this trap. They see a house that pulls the right strings and pushes the right emotional buttons, and they buy. Overlooked is the neighborhood. Questions that should be asked but often aren’t include, ‘‘Are there gangs?’’ ‘‘Is there a neighborhood crime watch group?’’ ‘‘What is the age makeup? ’’ ‘‘Is it a transient neighborhood with a high turnover?’’ ‘‘How are the schools, and is the home on a busy street?’’ No matter how much you like your house, if the neighborhood doesn’t fit your lifestyle, you’ll be selling before too long.
Juan and Rita found this out when they bought a cute, renovated bungalow in an older neighborhood. They soon found out that their neighborhood had several teens who liked to race up and down the street, and three of the homes on their street were rentals. The yards were not being taken care of, and obviously the area was going downhill. Unfortunately, Juan and Rita were not using a realtor when they bought the house. They had driven by the home and noticed a ‘‘for sale by owner’’ sign. The sellers were an older couple who wanted to move to a warmer climate and offered them a good deal on the home. The buyers were so focused on the home that they didn’t even think about the area. To avoid making this mistake, spend a lot of time in the neighborhood before you buy. Check out the different ways you can get to the house you’re interested in. How close are shopping, schools, and other areas of interest? And finally, how quiet is the neighborhood at different times and on weekdays as well as on the weekend?