While there are heated debates about whether crime has decreased in the US since its post-pandemic peak or if faulty data paints a misleading picture, safety remains a primary concern for home buyers when choosing their future neighborhood. This factor is even more critical for vulnerable households, such as families with young children or retirees.
Some areas have developed such a bad reputation that most locals are cautious, yet unsuspecting out-of-city buyers may make uninformed decisions they soon regret. Other high-crime areas may have remained off the radar because the problems are new and growing. To complicate matters, real estate agents usually do not disclose anything about crime statistics because it may violate the Fair Housing Act, risking their license. Websites such as Zillow and Redfin have stopped displaying crime indices for listings for various reasons.
In this article, we explore several ways to evaluate the different aspects of safety and security of an area.
Generally, we categorize safety and security into four areas: personal crime, property crime, traffic safety, and nearby registered sex offenders.
Personal Crime is the most critical aspect, referring to violent crimes that cause physical or emotional harm to the victim. Examples include assault and battery. A high frequency of such crimes in an area is a glaring red flag.
Property Crime involves theft or damage to private property, such as burglary and car theft. While less severe than personal crime, it is still traumatic to have your house or car broken into, even if no valuable items are taken.
Traffic Safety refers to the number of car accidents in the area, especially those involving DUIs. A high number of accidents near the area points to unsafe roads (e.g., poorly designed or insufficiently lit) or social issues such as a prevalent culture of careless or drunk driving. Either case is worrisome for a potential buyer.
Sex Offenders, convicted of crimes such as sexual battery and offenses against children, are required by law to report their place of residence, which is then made publicly available. This gives residents a heads-up about potential predators. According to a study published in the American Economic Review, the arrival of a sex offender in a neighborhood causes property prices to decline by approximately 4% within a 0.1-mile radius.
So, how can you investigate the area for crime and safety before making a big purchase?
Google News: Search the street name, neighborhood, or zip code alongside keywords like “shooting,” “murder,” or “assault” to see if there are recent reports of such incidents in the area.
Neighborhood Scouting Sites: Use websites that provide precise, hyperlocal information about any selected area. For example, Maptimum includes personal and property crime rates, nearby fatal car accidents, and nearby sex offenders in its neighborhood reports.
Local Police Reports: Many police departments provide online access to crime reports and statistics. The problem is that these statistics are often for the entire city, making it difficult to pin down specific neighborhoods.
Look for Indicators of Neglect: The Broken Window theory suggests that when the authorities do not address petty crimes, the problem can escalate into more serious crimes. If, during your walk around the area, you notice many homeless tents, graffiti, trash, stray or unleashed dogs, and locked items in local stores, these can be signs of weak law enforcement, pointing to potentially deteriorating safety conditions.
The Starbucks Test: Starbucks is known for conducting meticulous studies when choosing their coffee shop locations. If there’s a Starbucks near your area, there’s a good chance it is reasonably safe. However, the absence of a Starbucks should not be directly assumed as evidence of high crime.
HoodMaps: HoodMaps is a crowd-sourced humorous site where people add stereotypes about different parts of a city. While this information is not based on hard facts, negative comments about the safety of the area can indicate potential issues.
Community Forums and Social Media: Local forums, Nextdoor, and Facebook groups can provide firsthand accounts of neighborhood safety and recent incidents. While this information is anecdotal, it can give you a clearer picture.
Conclusion
Assessing the safety of a neighborhood is vital before deciding to buy or rent in an area. By utilizing a mix of online tools, community insights, and local resources, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of an area’s safety and security, allowing you to sign your closing documents with peace of mind.