Boston condos for sale, is that neighborhood safe?
One of the most common things Boston condo for sale buyers look for is a safe neighborhood. You want to feel like you and your family will be secure outside your home. However, finding a safe neighborhood isn’t always as simple as just looking around the area for a few minutes. Follow these tips to figure out whether a Boston downtown neighborhood is a safe place.
Talk to Neighbors
One of the most effective ways to gauge the safety of an area is to converse with people who live there. Start a conversation,with neighbors this lets you obtain information about what it feels like to live in the area. Ask neighbors about how often there are disturbances. You can also ask about things like local stores and community events.
Look at National Criminal Registries
The United States Department of Justice has registries that allow you to view an address and see if there are criminals living nearby. These registries usually only give you information for certain crimes, it can help you get a picture of the overall safety in an area. One or two former felons in an area isn’t a problem, but a high concentration of convicted criminals could be.
Visit the Neighborhood Multiple Times
Walk or drive around a neighborhood to see what it looks like. In safe neighborhoods, residents usually take care of their yards and maintain their properties. Safe areas tend to have plenty of residents out doing things like walking dogs and socializing with others. Just seeing a neighborhood once isn’t enough to assess safety, especially if it’s in a busy area like downtown Boston condo buyers should make sure they view neighborhoods on weekdays and weekends as well during the nighttime and daytime.
Check Local Crime Maps
There are several different websites that let you see the frequency of police activity and crime reports in a neighborhood. These convenient services show average crime rates across a city to indicate which neighborhoods are safer or more dangerous than others. Make sure to check what sorts of crimes frequently occur in the area, and avoid places with a high number of violent crimes.
Consider How Many Homes Are Selling
Boston downtown real estate trends aren’t necessarily linked to safety, but they can help you get an idea of how others feel about the neighborhood. An area may have a lot of Boston condos for sale because residents are leaving for a safer region. High numbers of properties for sale could also be an issue because vacant properties tend to attract criminal behavior.
Following the tips above can help you find out how safe a neighborhood is before you buy a Boston condo for sale. Another tip is to work with real estate agents who have the most up-to-date information about downtown Boston real estate. The experienced professionals at Ford Realty can give you all the details about safety when you’re looking for your new Boston downtown condo in America’s Finest City. Give us a call at 617-595-3712 to speak with one of our real estate experts.
