One of the most common questions people have when buying a home is, “How do I know if the neighborhood is safe?”

“The tricky part is that safety is subjective,” said Becky Seda, lead agent of the Seda Real Estate Group, in Oklahoma City. “What I think is safe, you may not think is safe.”

Seda has three tips for buyers who are wanting to know more about the safety of the neighborhoods where they are shopping for homes. 

1. Check crime statistics

Most local police departments have online crime data records regarding crime statistics for the area. In many cases, you can see what type of crime has happened and how recently. Checking this information can give you an insight into the neighborhood and help you in your decision making.

Other sites like NextDoor and SpotCrime track records, as well. The FBI even has a Crime Data Tracker where you can research an area’s crime history. 

2. Check school ratings

Next, look at the ratings for schools in the area.

Generally speaking, the better the school ratings, the higher the taxes are in that area. Highly rated schools may also mean that homes in the area don’t stay on the market long because people are working to move to that district. That could result in more competition.

3. Check out the neighborhood

Our final tip, drive through the neighborhood at various times of the day.

What are you seeing in the morning, mid-day and/or evening? Are there people or families out walking their dogs? Do you see children playing or people working in the yards? Does it feel like a place you would be comfortable?

Ultimately, your real estate agent cannot make the choice for you or decide whether you would feel safe in a particular neighborhood. 

“It’s a liability issue for us, as agents,” Seda said. “If we were to say, ‘Yes, this is the safest neighborhood,’ and then you make this huge purchase of a home, and a year later your car or your home get broken into then you might be upset with us.

“So for liability reasons we always ask you to do your research and dig into the data before you make that purchase.”

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, let our team at Seda Real Estate Group help you. We have the experience and knowledge you need on your side to help you navigate the real estate market.