| It's funny but no fun to buy a new home and then | | | | well and read between the lines you should learn |
| discover that snakes are regular visitors in the living | | | | something about where you might want to buy a |
| room. And you don't want to move into a house with a | | | | house. |
| leaky roof or a wet basement. Or discover that you | | | | Visit the town before buying a house, of course, and |
| picked the worst neighborhood in town - after you buy. | | | | visit a good local bar. Residents there will tell you which |
| To avoid surprises like these when buying a new | | | | employers are about to move in or out of the town, |
| home, you have to learn about the town, the | | | | how fast or slow homes are selling, whether there are |
| neighborhood and the house. Here are some ways to | | | | criminal gangs, and more. But verify what they tell you, |
| do that - before you make that offer. | | | | since people do sometimes exaggerate a bit. For best |
| Your New Town | | | | results, choose a bar with customers who are most |
| An online search by city and state (Fresno California) | | | | like you (income level, interests, etc.), to get the |
| will usually lead you to an official city site, or a chamber | | | | information most relevant to your needs. |
| of commerce website. These sites can provide a lot | | | | Drive around town. It will help you get a good feel for |
| of useful information, but they are "selling" the city. For | | | | where you might want to live. Stop to ask questions |
| the good and the bad, find a local newspaper online as | | | | when you see people out in their yards, and take |
| well. See what's going on in town, and check the | | | | notes. |
| classified advertising section to get an idea about | | | | Your New Home |
| home prices too. | | | | has a lot of information on the homes they list. You |
| Detailed statistics on almost every town and city in the | | | | can search for other real estate listing sites. They |
| U.S. can be found at Click on a state, then find the city | | | | won't mention things like whether a house is in an area |
| you want on the list (it covers towns of 6,000 people | | | | with scorpions or street flooding, but answers to these |
| or more). You'll find more statistics than you can | | | | questions can also be found on the internet. Google |
| possibly use, ranging from population, average income, | | | | the name of the town and "forum," and if there is one, |
| crime statistics, maps, photos and much more. | | | | sign up (they're usually free). Read the posts, and ask |
| Visit for climate information on almost every city in the | | | | about the specific area you are thinking of moving to. |
| U.S. Click on a state, choose the city you want, and | | | | People usually respond, as they did when we visited a |
| see how many inches of rain or snow they get each | | | | community forum and discovered that a good cat will |
| year, how hot or cold it gets, etc. You'll also find a link | | | | take care of scorpions. |
| to the current weather forecast for the town. | | | | When you have a good idea of the problems which |
| Call somebody from the Chamber of Commerce or a | | | | might be associated with a certain neighborhood, you |
| local real estate agent. Their phone numbers can be | | | | know what to ask when you start looking at houses. |
| found online at or at a Chamber Of Commerce | | | | Carry a home inspection checklist with you when you |
| website. Make a list of questions, and ask about | | | | do look at homes, and work your way through it. Pass |
| stores, libraries, jobs, crime and anything else that is | | | | on your notes to the professional inspector once you |
| important to you. We asked many people in many | | | | decide to buy a house. |
| towns, "Do you own a snow shovel?" before choosing | | | | When you're sure you like a home, walk around the |
| to move to Tucson, Arizona. | | | | area. Find a person or two out in their yards, and talk |
| Your New Neighborhood | | | | to them for a few minutes. Ask about noisy neighbors, |
| Once you have a local realtor or city official on the | | | | recent crime and other things that will help you decide |
| phone, ask about the various neighborhoods in town. If | | | | if this neighborhood is the right one for you. Do this and |
| they hesitate to label areas as "good" or "bad,", ask | | | | take the precautions above and your new home |
| more specific questions, like where older parts of town | | | | shouldn't have too many unpleasant surprises for you. |
| are, and where the most rental units are. If you listen | | | | |