Although Jeff Dowler had Carlsbad buyers in mind when he posted this, those looking for Sussex County NJ homes for sale frequently ask me exactly the same question. His tips for home buyers to investigate safety are as useful in Sussex County as they are in Carlsbad!
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"Is This A Safe Neighborhood?"
How many times have you been asked this question?
If the answer is never, I suspect you are an amazing exception, have a terrible memory, or are lying.
I always find this question a bit troubling.
Not so much the question itself. Heck, I have asked it myself, and have often wondered when buying various homes I have owned. It's very personal, and it touches a very basic need of people - to feel safe and protected in their homes, without undue fear of the outside world.
The reality is this question is a minefield, and providing specific information is probably inappropriate, risky, and perhaps violates local, state or other laws or codes.
The truth is WE do not know. And we shouldn't pretend to. It IS a sensitive question and acknowledging that this IS particularly important is fine. But trying to convince someone that the area is or is not "safe" is a liability.
And it's not that we don't want to be helpful. But to some extent we ARE prohibted from providing this specific information.
But there ARE some things buyers can do.
[photo courtesy of Alan Cleaver on Flickr]
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Check out Megan's Law, the National Sex Offender Database (it's specifically noted in the CA disclosures)
Contact the Local Police Department for the most up-to-date and accurate information on local crimes
Check out the local papers - they often provide local police reports of recent crimes.
City websites also provide some statistics on crime in the area, although this is not really localized and may not be up to date
Chat with the neighbors - who knows better than the neighbors if you want the scoop? Of course you may have to take it with a grain of salt. But it's more information.
Visit Crime Mapping - you can input the home's address and obtain a list of the recent crimes and where they are located relative to the house and during a specific period of time.
City Rating and Neighborhood Scout are other sites buyers have shared with me for a source of crime statistics.
It's important, no essential, that you do YOUR due diligence so you get the information that you need so you can feel comfortable. Or make other decisions.
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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits
Oh I've been asked this question plenty! And I always direct them to the internet and the local police department for statistics.
Always refer to local police and walk the neighborhood and talk to folks. If they are afraid to walk the neighborhood then the answer may be self evident!
Irene:
Without a doubt this question has the potential to be explosive. I know that it has come up in my career and I recommend visiting with the local police/sheriff department and or getting info from the website, I find it to be a delicate situation --- so I offer a sheet of information with locations on the web as well as going in person that the buyers can research.I find I am not placed in an untenable situation, by encourage the buyers to do their home work.
Vickie - I live in rural area with low crime rates so I'm usually confident the buyers will like what they learn.
Gary - Even if buyers don't ask about safety, I always recommend they "cruise the neighborhood" in the evening to see the goings on. Which in Sussex County NJ is usually rolling up the sidewalks.
Lorraine and/or Loretta - Many of my potential buyers want overly full service and don't want to do their own due diligence. As you point out, the web addresses come in VERY handy.
Hi Irene! OH, I get this question ALL of the time! I don't have any problem letting them know that I, by LAW, cannot discuss this with them but, I can tell them where to go to do their own research--and it will only take minutes of their time. Generally, I get comments about how they got lost on the site and learned more about Charlotte than they were looking for--thanking me for giving them the web address!
Debe,
Hadn't thought of the unexpected plus. Makes it even better!
Irene most of us have had this experience. I agree that we should the the "source of the source" not the source itself. My agents are encouraged to make a list of numbers and web sites part of their buyers packet when they begin working with new clients. This includes a list of the web sites and phone numbers where clients can obtain this information. If in the office we sit them down at a computer while we get coffee and direct them to the web pages where answers to their questions may be found.
Irene - Yes this is a very sensitive question and the answer always is "you should investigate it on your own" period... I saw this when Jeff posted it and thought it was a great post as well worthy of a reblog. Hope you are ok out in the snow by you...
Dave - Like the idea of including it in a buyer packet. Here, however, most look at a wide range of local towns in our rural County before honing in on "the one."
Bob - I got off easily because I wasn't even in Sussex when it hit. Was much lighter than predicted in any case.
Irene,
I found a website here in Tucson that gives crime statistics. It's amazing what we don't know about the world around us.
Mike in Tucson
Mike,
I hope those stats haven't made you worry!