When you're in the real estate market to buy a home, it's important to think not just about the house itself, but also about the community in which it's located. When you first learn about the real estate listing, you can do some research online to learn about what schools, stores, and other services are available in the neighborhood. However, there's nothing better than taking some time to travel to the neighborhood in question and either drive or walk through the area to look for some visual signs of either a good area or a bad area. Here are some important things to be on the lookout for.

Upkeep Of Other Homes

It's useful to look around the neighborhood and determine how other homeowners take care of their homes and yards. Seeing positive signs, such as manicured lawns and homes that do not show obvious signs of neglect, indicates a pride of ownership. This can help keep the average house value in the neighborhood high, which is ideal if you end up buying a home and moving in. You don't want to be in an area surrounded by neighbors who do not perform any upkeep on their homes, as this could affect your home and property value.

Presence Of Children

Another factor to watch for is the presence of children. If there are lots of kids in the neighborhood who are frequently accompanied by parents and appear to be engaging in constructive behavior, such as playing sports in the park or riding their bicycles, it's a good sign. Conversely, if you see teenagers loitering — and signs of the loitering, such as litter and vandalism — it could be a sign that youths in the area have little parental supervision. You might wish to think twice about moving into such an area, given the risk of damage to your home or vehicle.

Number Of Homes For Sale

As you travel throughout the neighborhood, try to get a sense of how many homes are for sale. While there's no magic number that should alarm you, it may be a concern if it appears that an abnormally high number of homes are on the market. In this case, you'll want to talk to your real estate agent to determine potential reasons. For example, if there are problems with the ground water in the area, many homeowners may be fleeing — and this is likely a sign that you won't want to buy your home in this location.