“Interview” The Neighborhood

Do you know where you want to live?  How well do you know that neighborhood?  One of the most important step is to “interview” any desired neighborhood in which you do not currently live.

• Visit the neighborhood during peak commuting hours—early morning and dinner time
• Visit the neighborhood during off-peak hours—evenings & weekends
• Walk the neighborhood and ask residents about their experience living there
• Visit local shops and restaurants—talk to store owners and employees
• If you plan to use public transportation—test the commute to and from work!

School Systems & Crime Statistics – What A Realtor® Cannot Tell You & Why

Home Buyer Question:  How is the school system?
Home Buyer Question:  Is this neighborhood safe?

What may seem innocent questions can be highly discriminatory topics for Realtors® to discuss.  By law real estate agents cannot offer opinions about the schools or describe safety in a neighborhood.

WHY? If a Realtor® were to tell one homebuyer that the schools are excellent and crime rates are low; yet tell a different homebuyer the opposite about the same exact neighborhood ….one might suspect “steering” or discriminating against one buyer for a specific neighborhood.  Originated from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which included Title VIII – discrimination laws in the sale, rental and financing of housing now referred to as the Federal Fair Housing Act.  The Federal Fair Housing Act today prohibits housing discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status & handicap/disability. It also prohibits, among other practices, that of “steering” or channeling of protected class members to certain buildings or neighborhoods.  Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development visit:  www.hud.gov

Helpful Resources for School Systems:
Though by law real estate agents are not to comment on the quality of school systems; we can offer helpful resources.  In addition, I try to find other parents with children in any school system that my Clients are considering – this has proven to be very helpful for my Clients to gain parental insight and experience.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Visit:  www.mass.gov
The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development site “Living In Massachusetts” provides school rankings by town, alternative & independent school choices and performance statistics as well as colleges, universities and continuing education.  Visit the Executive Office of Public Safety webpage “Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice” for crime statistics & reports.

City of Cambridge – Visit:  www.cambridgema.gov
The Department of Community Development provides city and neighborhood demographic profiles.  School Department website provides information about all of the Cambridge Public Schools.  Police Department website provides current and historical crime reports and profiles.  Perhaps the most valuable resource is the neighborhood itself.  Talk to neighbors, schools and police departments directly.  Cambridge neighborhood associations can also be very helpful.

Helpful Resources for Crime Statistics:
Contact or visit the local police department in any city or town to obtain crime statistics.  Do you know what the crime rate is for your current neighborhood?  Before assessing the crime rate for any city or town; obtain crime statistics for your current address.  Often times safety is a perception, a feeling, that belies the actual facts.  Unfortunately, crime can happen anywhere and no one can guarantee that a specific neighborhood, street or property will be “safe”.  If you are working with a real estate agent who promises you a “safe” neighborhood – buyer beware.