Buyer Real Estate Agent/Realtor tip #2 "Research area, meet neighbors "Birmingham, MI

By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

Many homes on the market are judged for their architecture, floor space and condition. But some experts are warning homebuyers not to confine their checklists to a house's four walls.

The atmosphere of a neighborhood can have an extensive effect on quality of life, said Joan Downing, broker-owner of RE/MAX in the Hills in Bloomfield Hills. She said neighborhoods vary in quality on everyday factors such as neighbors, crime, aesthetics and schools.

As a result, a savvy homebuyer should do independent research before any dotted lines are signed.

"They should investigate, on their own, the crime statistics and the school information," she said. "Over and above that, they can search for crime in different neighborhoods."

Because few neighborhoods are perfect, potential homebuyers should also weigh their priorities while conducting their research. For instance, parents will probably want to pay more attention to the schools.

"Schools are going to be important to those clients that are looking to place children in schools or are buying in a family neighborhood," she said. "Some buyers may be empty nesters or singles. ... They may purchase in an area and never even question the MEAP scores."

But while public data can be helpful to conducting one's own research, Downing warned that it could sometimes be outdated, fallible or easily misinterpreted. She said a trusted Realtor could offer better advice and more relevant statistics than Web sites such as Zillow because Realtors collect better data on home values and recent sales.

Mike Sher, associate broker for Real Estate One in Royal Oak, said statistics on the Internet could be useful. He particularly recommended a Standard & Poor's Web site called SchoolMatters.com, which analyzes schools across the country according to their class sizes, enrollment and academic aptitude.

But Sher also agreed that data and figures can be deceiving. For instance, crime data within a particular ZIP code might suggest a certain level of crime, but the area might be large enough to contain different neighborhoods with a large variance of crime, he said.

"Statistics are created in past events, and there is a lag time even when the data was developed and now," he added.

To Sher, the eyes are the best way to avoid lies. He said prospective homebuyers should drive by their favorite properties and talk to neighbors for the scoop on an area. An in-person visit can also unveil unpleasant truths - such as a property's nearness to noise and railroad tracks, he said.

Downing said a tour could also reveal whether other homes in the vicinity are well-maintained. "Universally, they would be looking at the overall condition and aesthetics of a particular neighborhood because you don't want to purchase in a neighborhood where the homes are not cared for," she said.

She added that potential buyers should visit the neighborhood multiple times and at different days of the week. Many buyers with families like to visit a neighborhood when kids are getting out of school, she said.

"It will give you an idea of how many families with children live in the neighborhood," she said.

To reach Real Estate One in Royal Oak, call (248) 548-9100. For more information about RE/MAX in the Hills, call (248) 646-5000.

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Czarnik at eczarnik@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-

Office: (248) 644-4700x242 Fax :(248) 499-1020 4120 Telegraph Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 E-mail: mike@mikerealtor.com