Crime When Searching for a Home to Rent/Buy

Crime is a tricky element in real estate, enough for Trulia, Redfin, & Realtor.com to do away with their crime maps due to concerns about fair housing (though I suspect that not being competitive enough with Trulia's map could have played a bigger influence for Redfin & Realtor.com & that Trulia succumbed to pressure following them). I feel that all buyers should have the ability to check for crime, and want to provide some of the best sources I've found in the absence of what used to be the best source online, the Trulia crime map. Below I'll cover some preliminary considerations in real estate regarding crime,

I. Preliminary Considerations:

The Legal Quirk with Asking "I Want to Only Consider Neighborhoods with Low Crime In My Search"

Compensating Positive Factors to Reduce Crime

Adverse Factors that Increase Crime

Impact of Crime on House Values

I'm not an Attorney

II. Best Sources of Spotting Crime I've Found:

https://crimegrade.org/ is a solid resource with a color-coded map of areas based on crime.

City-Data.com is a Solid Option for Color Coded Crime Maps

https://spotcrime.com/ is another solid resource, where you can see actual crimes and when they occurred relative to properties in most cities & counties.

Would you want to know if a sex offender lived next door?

Asking Locals During the Day

Drive-Bys at Night

Ask Law Enforcement & Those Who Have Been in the Area Long Time

III. Where to go for City/County/Area Crime Statistics:

Spreadsheet Comparing VA Cities/Counties for Crime

BestPlaces.Net For Easy Comparison of Crime in City/County v Larger Area & State

ADAM GARRETT

Crime When Searching for a Home to Rent/Buy

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