Neighborhood Research

[drunkpeggy]

What websites do you use to check out potential neighborhoods at your new duty station?

We're considering keeping with our 5-7 year plan which was to move into our "forever" home. Now that we have Sophia that plan needs to include research for school districts. I don't know what websites to trust though.

[amaristella]

I don't know any off the top of my head. I usually just try to find a local Facebook/Internet group where I can talk to people who already live there and get recommendations. Even if I still double-check those recommendations later on it's usually a good starting point.

[prettyinpink]

I'm searching for an email from E's aunt about what to search when you are purchasing a home.

Okay I can't find it but I know one was on crime rates in the area. One was the Megan's Law website. As far as schools I just looked up schools in the area and looked at the information on test scores and such on their websites.

[bigmamma]

Forums like this actually aren't bad to start with... You can also check local law enforcement agencies to see crime rates petty to violent.

Schools - don't trust any website. Talk to the staff, visit the school.

What areas are you looking at?

[drunkpeggy]

Jul 17, 2012 14:17:36 GMT -5 bigmamma said:

Forums like this actually aren't bad to start with... You can also check local law enforcement agencies to see crime rates petty to violent.

Schools - don't trust any website. Talk to the staff, visit the school.

What areas are you looking at?

We live in southern New Jersey. Tim reports to Ft. Dix so I'd like to move closer to post not only for his drill weekends but also because it's more rural and the taxes aren't as crazy as they are in our area. (We pay $5400 a year in property taxes for an end unit townhome. )

Pemberton and Wrightstown are out...they're shit holes. I'd like to be North or East of post but I'm not dead set on an area. I'm actually at somewhat of a loss for where I want us to look.

I plan on grabbing some real estate magazines while we're on post this weekend to at least get my bearings.