You’ve started a family and it’s time to look for a property upgrade. The house you currently have just doesn’t have enough space for kids, and you need something substantially bigger.
You’ve spotted a house that looks ideal, but you’re unsure about the neighborhood. You want to live in a location that is safe for your children to grow up in.
There are never any guarantees, but there are some signs that the crime rate in a neighborhood may be high, and there are also certain factors that sellers must make you aware of.
Abandoned properties
The property you are looking at seems fantastic. However, in some of the adjacent streets, the homes look abandoned. There also seems to be a lack of businesses and storefronts. Why is nobody utilizing the properties in these areas? One reason may be that the crime rate is high, and the neighborhood has developed a bit of a reputation. If homes and businesses are constantly being vandalized or subjected to other criminal activity, then owners will pack up and move elsewhere.
A noticeable presence of law enforcement
Seeing a police officer from time to time isn’t a bad thing. If there’s a local station nearby, then this can actually be comforting. Nonetheless, it’s not common for law enforcement to constantly patrol areas that have a lower crime rate. A high presence of police officers could be an indication that they are constantly on the lookout for and expecting trouble.
What sellers should tell you
In some states, sellers are prohibited from disclosing information about whether registered sex offenders live in a neighborhood. There are no such restrictions in the state of New York. Ideally, real estate agents should have this information at hand. If they don’t, then they should refer you to the New York Sex Offenders Registry, where you can find out for yourself. If a real estate agent deliberately attempts to conceal knowledge of known sex offenders living in the neighborhood, this could provide grounds for civil litigation.
Protecting your rights
Real estate professionals should always act with integrity. As you’re making your next home purchase, make sure you have enlisted guidance from someone who knows how to handle the legal nuances of real estate transactions.