We all want to make sure we are living or are going to be living in a safe area. It is important to think about, especially now that children are starting to go back to school. There are various resources you can use to scope out a potential neighborhood or learn more about your own. Here are some of the best resources available:

Crime Mapping Services

A crime mapping service is a great tool to be able to see what kind of crimes take place in a specific area. Two of the better ones I have found are SpotCrime and CrimeReports. This tool is great to scope out what types of crimes and what dates they’ve been committed. You are also able to compare neighborhoods to find one with the lowest crime rate.

National Sex Offender Public Website

The National Sex Offender website allows you to enter the address of your home, or a home you are potentially looking to buy or build and see how many sex offenders live in a up to 3-mile radius. You are able to see their names and locations on the map.

AreaVibes

AreaVibes allows you to search for what is important to you. You are able to enter an address, neighborhood, city or even state and it gives a score based on factors such as crime rate, amenities, livability and housing. It also allows you to compare different places and can help you decide which areas you will be comfortable living in and ones you may want to avoid.

Take a Tour

If you are thinking of buying a house in a specific neighborhood take a tour of the surrounding area. Are houses in good condition? What are the conditions like? Is there graffiti or a large number of homes unattended? While it is no guarantee that a neighborhood is safe it is a helpful indicator on what type of neighbors you will have.

Ask

If you are still uncertain about a neighborhood you can try asking some potential neighbors what they think of the area. Are they happy there? Have they had any problems with crime? Sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation.

While there are no absolute guarantees when it comes to your or your family’s safety these resources are invaluable to helping you make the best-informed decision you can.

I am passionate about Real Estate and eager to answer all of your real estate questions! Text or Call me at 360-880-2356 or email me directly to ask about Buying, Selling or Investing in today's Real Estate Market - serving Lewis County & Thurston County, WA.

Janet Simons | Certified Residential Specialist | Real Estate Broker
Mountain Valley Real Estate