One of the things that is frustrating to both clients and REALTORS is that we are prohibited from commenting on whether or not a neighborhood is "safe" due to Fair Housing Laws. (See article "What Realty Agents Won't Tell You.") The web, however, fills that void nicely with a variety of tools, and now there's a new one that looks very useful: CrimeReports.com. Just enter the address and the map populates with recent crime data, including police calls and arrests.
As this CNN article states, the site had its inspiration in a local Arlington County resident, and is not without its own controversy around privacy and other matters. Nonetheless, it's a valuable tool for buyers investigating potential neighborhoods.
It doesn't appear to have Virginia data yet (the site has a form where you can request the data from your local police department); DC and Montgomery County, MD, are already online.
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Contact Katie Wethman, CPA, MBA, REALTOR® at (703) 847-3336 or via email to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in the Washington, DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, or Falls Church City. I specialize in first time buyers.
Copyright © 2008 by Katie Wethman, All Rights Reserved.
Visit my website to find out more about my services or search the MLS for Arlington and Washington, DC, properties and read more on my blog.
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Thanks for sharing this information with us.
I heard this the other day on WTOP and coudln't remember the exact address. Thanks for blogging about this.
Katie -
Thanks for reminding us about this resource.
I have put links to the local county crime reports on my webpage at http://www.hollish.com/Community.html. It includes several DC area Northern Virginia counties. Feel free to use these links for your own real estate sites. They have come in handy for many of my relocation clients who have serious questions about areas in which they are unfamiliar.
Dana Hollish Hill