October 2009

**As I write this there is a Police helicopter circling my “safe” neighborhood in East Mesa and I have the heebee jeebees.  This won’t seem so random after you read this post.**

I am forever amazed at the number of people who tell me they only have one main requirement in a neighborhood: they want a safe one.  It sounds like this:

Would you put your mom in this house?  Would you live in this neighborhood?  I wonder if there are any sex offenders in the neighborhood?

While I would love to be able to tell you that a neighborhood is safe and you’ll never be harmed if you purchase a house in there, I just can’t make those promises:

1.)  Because I’m not allowed -

REALTOR CODE OF ETHICS: Standard of Practice 10-2

When not involved in the sale or lease of a residence, REALTORS^® may provide demographic information related to a property, transaction or professional assignment to a party if such demographic information is (a) deemed by the REALTOR^® to be needed to assist with or complete, in a manner consistent with Article 10, a real estate transaction or professional assignment and (b) is obtained or derived from a recognized, reliable, independent, and impartial source. The source of such information and any additions, deletions, modifications, interpretations, or other changes shall be disclosed in reasonable detail. (Adopted 1/05, Renumbered 1/06)  [my emphasis]

You see, I am only half of those emphasized items: I am reliable and independent but surely not a recognized or impartial source.

2.)  I don’t know -

This is the real key here.  What is your definition of safe?  I have no doubt in my mind that your definition of safe is different than mine, and mine is different than the next person’s.  Safe is very relative.  I have clients who live in a neighborhood that I don’t like going to in the daylight let alone at night and they tell me that they feel the safest there than anywhere they’ve ever lived.

I’ve lived in a neighborhood where I didn’t feel safe (see I can’t even trust myself).  I had neighbors with severe drug & domestic violence issues two doors down.  We regularly had Police helicopters circling (see I told you).  It wasn’t unusual to see the SWAT team moving in with full shields walking across my yard.

3.)  Is perception reality? -

Are the perceived safe areas really safe?  Or are crimes just different or less reported or less noticeable?

Once, when my husband was out of town, in an attempt to escape the afore mentioned neighborhood, I decided to take my young girls and stay with my in-laws in  their high-end, gated, golf course subdivision.  Someone threw a brick through my car window in their driveway.

My current “safe” neighborhood is 1/2 a mile away from the old one.  Is half a mile really enough to constitute safety compared to the fear that I used to feel?  Probably not.

So what’s a buyer to do?

• Check out Arizona Association of REALTORS’ Buyer Advisory.  It is periodically being updated and offers many live links which will offer you various ways to learn about the house and community you are considering.
• Talk to the neighbors.  You know there is always that gabby one who knows the scoop on everything/everybody.  Find them.
• Drive through the neighborhood in the morning, in the afternoon when school is getting out, at dusk and in the evening.
• Google the community name.  See what anyone else has to say about it online.
• Ask the seller why they’re leaving.

While it’s not me flat out giving you the go ahead that you’ll be safe, these items will help you with due diligence and that’s better than taking my word for it anyway.

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