10 Tips On Researching a New St. Louis Neighborhood Before Buying a House
Moving to a new St. Louis neighborhood can be nerve-wracking. No one wants to buy a St. Louis house and learn that the neighborhood is dangerous or simply not a good fit for their family. Researching a St. Louis neighborhood before looking at houses is essential for making a good purchase. The best part is a buyer can do this research from their own home without the need to drive to the new neighborhood.
Census
Using the census can help any buyer learn more about the demographics in a St. Louis neighborhood. This started back in the 1790s and information has been collected every ten years. It is not hard to find the information on the most recent census, and it will tell aspects like race, age, the average time it takes to get to work, and population density.
A Simple Search
The internet has made it easy to find information about St. Louis houses and neighborhoods. A quick search of a neighborhood can reveal a lot of information. Some of this information includes the average price of homes in the St. Louis neighborhood, how much crime they see regularly and what type, and even how busy the roads are. Some searches even reveal what makes a neighborhood special or stand out against the others.
Distance On Foot
Many people are opting to walk to places or even ride their bike. Being able to do this from the new house may be a deciding factor in some St. Louis buyer’s eyes. There are many sites that give a walk score or bike score to let buyers know just how close St. Louis neighborhoods are to commercial areas.
Take a Virtual Walk
There are apps that show more of the St. Louis neighborhood than traditional GPS maps. Walking apps will show destinations and the many features of a neighborhood. It is just like taking a quick walk through the neighborhood without needing to actually do it. All that is needed is an address in the St. Louis area and a starting point.
Getting From Point A to Point B
Not all St. Louis neighborhoods can be close enough to walk to work. Some buyers need access to public transportation to get to their jobs or to do daily errands.
Look for a website that gives a transit score. This score will show how easy it is to get to public transportation or show if a car is necessary for the area.
Choosing a School District
There are two ways a St. Louis buyer should research schools. If it is important to have a great school district, they should start by searching the school districts for the best scores. There are sites that allow teachers and parents to review the schools, plus they show the rating of the school. Choose a district that is highly rated, then choose a St. Louis neighborhood that falls into that district.
If it is not as important to be in a great school district, a person can simply search the schools that are in the St. Louis area. They can learn more about what schools are in the desired neighborhood and what options they have if there are multiple to choose from.
Danger
Always research what crimes are prevalent in an area. A general crime score is a good place to start. If the score is higher, check what crimes are being committed on a regular basis. A cheap home in a bad St. Louis neighborhood is not a good deal.
Topographical Maps
Many buyers want to see what their neighborhood looks like but few know they can see every feature. Using a topographical map will not only show where houses are but the elevation of the land as well. This gives a much more clear picture of homes that could be in a flood area.
Kick Back
It is not all about working and being at home. There has to be some time for entertainment as well. Do a search for the entertainment in the St. Louis area. Are their parks for the kids? A restaurant for date night? Or is everything the next town over?
Find The Perfect Neighborhood
Some people love the neighborhood that they are in, but have to move to a new state or town for work. There are websites that have filters for searching for certain features in a neighborhood. Put in everything that is great about the current neighborhood to find one similar in the next town.