Neighborhoods, like people, have unique sets of personalities and characteristics. Whether you're planning to buy a home or considering renting for the meantime, it’s important to figure out if the neighborhood you’re considering fits your lifestyle before you make your move. This is why digging into local details such as safety, walkability, nearby schools, and other local demographics beforehand is crucial. It will help you determine if your potential neighborhood suits you, which could save you from lots of headaches or getting buyer’s remorse later on. Your real estate agent is one of your most valuable resources about the neighborhood you're considering. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions especially if you’re buying remotely and haven’t had time to visit the area yet.  However, there are specific questions that real estate professionals cannot answer due to guidelines set by the Fair Housing Act, originally passed in 1968, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. They may not be able to disclose statistics regarding some issues, such as anything related to crime and safety, because it could be a reference, intentionally or not, to the racial makeup of the neighborhood.  So if you are curious about crime statistics, school information, and other local demographic data, you may need to look them up yourself. Just remember to take any information you find with a grain of salt. Consider them carefully because not all data fairly represent the neighborhood and may carry a certain amount of bias in them.   Here are a few apps and websites that can help provide you with more information about your potential neighborhood: Take a virtual walk on your potential new neighborhood by using Google Street View. You can do this by checking the gallery of maps below any listing or house photos in a home search site, or just go straight to Google Maps and type in the home address. You will be able to explore the neighborhood without stepping foot in there, which is especially crucial if you're buying a home remotely or still can’t visit the area due to some restrictions. The virtual tour will give you a good idea of what the neighborhood looks like and what can be found nearby.   If it's a historic neighborhood you’re considering, look into the history of the area via websites set up by the city’s historical society. There’s a good chance you can find digitized news archives and publications featuring local significant events, where you can learn valuable details about the community.   A neighborhood's walk score or walkability rating is based on whether it’s possible to visit nearby grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, schools, and parks on foot. If part of your preference in a home is being able to easily get to places on foot, you may want to check your potential neighborhood’s walk score early in the process. Walk Score also shows separate scores for public transit options and bike-friendliness of the neighborhood. Aside from that, you can also view crime and safety data and see what locals are saying.   For parents researching their potential place, it would be beneficial to check the GreatSchools rating for nearby schools. GreatSchools publishes ratings and information so that people can get an understanding of the quality of nearby schools and help them compare schools within the state. Aside from the usual test scores, the GreatSchools Summary Rating includes other important and relevant information such as how much a school helps students improve academically, how well a school supports students from different socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups, and whether or not some groups of students are disproportionately affected by the school's discipline and attendance policies.   If you're planning to buy, take the time to research property value trends and recent sales in the neighborhood you’re considering. By taking property value trends into consideration, you’ll have a better idea about whether home prices in the neighborhood are going up, remaining consistent, or going downwards. Likewise, check how many houses on your potential street are currently for sale or rent. Too many houses for sale may indicate a possible drop in property values.  And while property values in a particular neighborhood won’t give you the bigger picture, they’re worth looking into especially if you’re thinking of your home as a long-term investment.   With NeighborhoodScout, you can find hyper-local data on current real estate activity, neighborhood demographics, crime stats, school information, and forecasts for the housing market.   Nextdoor is a private social network and app that requires you to sign up as a member and belong to one neighborhood at a time. So if you're in the process of checking out and keeping up to date with what’s happening in your potential neighborhood, it might be worth joining in. In the app, you can connect with your potential neighbors and participate in real-time conversations. Nextdoor lets members stay informed and share useful local information, share goods and recommendations, and send updates related to crime and safety.   On this website, you can find statistics and detailed profiles for many cities and neighborhoods in the U.S. Data include demographic makeup, median household income, graphs of the latest real estate prices and sales trends, recent home sales, geographic data, state profiles, crime data, registered sex offenders, cost of living, housing, religions, businesses, local news links, employment, weather, natural disasters, hospitals, schools, and libraries, among others.   CrimeMapping.com is a police report-tracking service that shows on a map the different crimes reported in a neighborhood or city. It provides valuable information about recent crime activity in a neighborhood. Also similar: CrimeReports CrimeReports or CityProtect is a map-based site that shows you up-to-date data on crimes or incidents that have recently occurred in your area. To use it, just type the address or ZIP code of your potential neighborhood and see what pops up on the map.    This website provides a Livability Score that takes into account dozens of characteristics in seven different categories including amenities, cost of living, crime rates, education, employment, housing prices, and crime rates. When researching for the best places to live in and around a specific location, you just need to type the address, neighborhood, or zip code. You can also customize the list based on the category or factor that is most important to you. 

While there's certainly a huge debate on renting vs buying a home, no one could argue that it’s a major decision for many people. Some say renting is like throwing money down the drain and you’re just paying off someone else’s mortgage. Others insist that there’s no way they could give up their flexibility and be tied up in one place.  If you’re finally thinking about taking the plunge into homeownership this year, how do you know that it’s time for you to take that leap? The decision on whether to rent or buy is a huge and costly endeavor, but you can always justify it based on logic and emotion. To help with your case, we’ve laid out seven signs you’re ready to make the switch from renter to homeowner.   1. Your rent payments keep going up. Rents keep on escalating in many parts of the country, and this is one of the biggest reasons why any renter would want to buy a home. In some neighborhoods and real estate markets, the cost of renting is even higher than the average monthly mortgage of a single-family home. If you already feel trapped with the uncertainty of your rent payments, you might be better off purchasing a home where your mortgage is consistent, and you'll be gradually putting equity into your biggest asset.   2. You have steady employment.  Employment plays a huge role in the mortgage application process since lenders and mortgage companies take into account your employment history before approving you for a loan. Typically, they would want to see that you spent at least two years working for the same company or in a similar field, and that you'll likely continue having the funds to pay your debt. If you’re a freelancer or a gig economy worker, you need to prove that you have a steady source of income for a couple of years through your W-2s, tax returns, and other documents. Just remember that for lenders, a stable job means a stable income, which lowers your risk as a borrower.   3. You've saved up for a down payment, closing costs, and other costs associated with owning a home.  For many home buyers, the most difficult step in the home buying process is saving for a down payment, according to the 2019 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Setting aside money for a down payment towards their dream home is made even harder because of student loans and credit card debts. So if you have a stable job for a while now and your income has improved, there's a better chance for you to save up enough extra money to cover up the added expenses of homeownership. And remember that the 20 percent down payment requirement for you to qualify for a mortgage is already a myth. In fact, mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, also known as FHA loans, require only 3.5 percent of the home’s purchase price. Meanwhile, government loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Loans) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Loans) require no down payment at all, so there’s no need to scrape all your money just to cover the 20 percent down payment if it means leaving zero balance in your savings.  You know you’re ready to get the keys to your new home instead of renewing your lease if you have also saved up for closing costs and other homeownership expenses, such as property taxes, maintenance funds, and homeowner’s insurance.   4. You're managing your debts. It isn't necessary for you to be totally debt-free when you apply for a mortgage. Loan companies simply need to make sure that you aren’t carrying too much debt compared to what you make, and that you’ll be able to afford to take on additional responsibility, such as your potential monthly mortgage payment. They do this by determining your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which measures how much of your monthly income goes toward paying off your debts.  Lenders ideally prefer a ratio lower than 36 percent, but borrowers with no more than 43 percent DTI ratio can still get qualified for a home loan. Getting your debt down to a more manageable level will help put you in a stronger position to get pre-approved. Assess your spending habits even while still renting, and change them as much as possible to improve your chances of finally owning your first place.   5. Your credit score is in good shape. One of the biggest reasons why renters can't make the leap to owning a home is because of their low credit score. Having good credit matters because it will determine how much money you can borrow and how much you’ll pay in interest. A good FICO score is usually about 690 and higher, although borrowers with a credit score as low as 500 can already qualify for a mortgage depending on the loan program.  When was the last time you’ve checked your credit report? If your credit is looking healthier because you’re making timely payments and settling your debts, you can have access to more conventional loan programs with lower down payments. Once you have addressed this important issue, you can rest assured that homeownership is now within your reach.   6. You're ready to settle in a neighborhood you love. This one's quite subjective, but your preferred location and your capability to settle in one place are also huge considerations when buying your first home. If you anticipate moving in a few years, you know that you’ll only live in a particular area for a year or two, or you just can’t imagine yourself being tied down in one place, renting is likely your best option since you can leave whenever you want. Renting is also your smarter bet if you want to test out the waters in different areas where you’re thinking of buying a place.  But once you’re ready to settle down in a neighborhood you love, you’re secured in your job, and that you can see yourself putting down roots in the next five years, purchasing a home is your next sensible step.   7. You're ready to finally become a homeowner. In the 2019 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report by the National Association of RealtorsⓇ, 29 percent of all buyers cited their main reason for purchasing was the desire to own a home. Your readiness to become a homeowner matters above everything else. When you own a property, you'll be in charge of all the repairs, maintenance, and upkeep costs. If you’re not comfortable with these tasks and you’d rather leave the problem to a landlord, you may be better off renting for longer. Many people simply prefer to rent instead of taking advantage of lower interest rates because of this reason. If the idea of home maintenance no longer intimidates you, you actually enjoy fixing things up in your place, and you’re ready to stay for the weekends just to mow the lawn and do other yard work, these are signs that you’re finally ready to call a place your home. You know you’re ready for the huge responsibility that is homeownership and you’re ready to be your own landlord.

Many real estate agents are there exclusively to help us navigate the intricate process of buying or selling a home. Yet, don't be surprised because there are also some who are exceptional in assisting renters in finding a nice and desirable apartment, condo, or any rental property. Their level of service may depend on the location and the agent themselves. Real estate agents will guide you on your search and help narrow down your options. Since they know the ins and outs of properties, they can match you with the right neighborhood and apartment size and amenities within your price range or fit your budget. They can also help you schedule tours for you to see the rental firsthand. To boot, they can also negotiate a lower rent with the property manager or landlord or obtain better terms that will make your life easier as a tenant. Here are five common situations where you may benefit from hiring a real estate agent when you're looking for your next apartment or rental property:   1. Finding an apartment in your area is like a battlefield. In larger cities with highly competitive markets, such as New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, using a real estate agent is necessary to help you get appointments for unit tours and showings and lock in that perfect rental property. These cities have huge populations of renters, so hiring a realtor can give you a huge advantage in your search. Likewise, agents also have access to rental listings available in the Multiple Listing Service or MLS.   2. You're relocating to a new city. Moving to a new city can be both challenging and overwhelming. More so when looking for your next apartment where the neighborhoods are unfamiliar. In this circumstance, you can take advantage of a local real estate agent’s knowledge about available homes, apartments, and rental properties. It will also be helpful if you can’t have a longer visit to your next city until your final relocation date.   3. Scheduling a tour or property showing is difficult. Sometimes, it can get difficult to contact a property manager via phone or email (especially in larger cities) or get to the leasing office of the property you are looking at if you are moving into a new city. A real estate agent can help make it possible to schedule a tour or after-hours showing, especially in these troublesome situations. Having an agent represent you can also give you more credibility since the property manager will know you are serious about your search.   4. You're looking to rent a single-family home. According to MarketWatch, single-family rental homes make up over one-third of all rental properties in the US. There are about 16 million rental households, and the high demand is showing no signs of slowing down. If a single-family home rental is what you’re looking for, you may realize that it can be harder to find listings and schedule showings unlike if you are looking into apartment buildings, which often have a property manager on-site. Real estate agents have access to the local multiple listing service, thus, they will know which houses are available for rent and can help you schedule tours faster.   5. You're a first-time renter who wants to better understand the complicated matters regarding your lease. While most tenants can find a place on their own without the help of any real estate professional, it isn’t surprising to feel overwhelmed with all the complicated matters a rental lease entails. Before signing the dotted line, enlisting the help of a real estate agent can help you understand all the vital information included in your lease. They can also be very helpful if you’re the type who doesn’t want to waste your precious time sitting in front of the computer, trying to browse for rental properties and narrowing down your options, but still having difficulties getting tour schedules to see properties.   One thing to remember is that realtor fees and how much you have to pay vary by city or location. Common rates are usually equivalent to one month's rent or 15% of the annual rent on the apartment. Likewise, you may or may not have to shoulder the fees. Sometimes, it will be the landlord or property owner who will pay the agent after finding a desirable tenant. In cities like New York City where the competition for apartments is very high, brokers typically require a fee of one month’s rent. In Seattle, on the other hand, agents collect a flat fee of a few hundred dollars from the renter. It’s important to discuss fees upfront before you sign any agreement and work with a real estate agent. Make sure you understand how the professional can help you find a rental property, and how much he or she will get paid. Understand what fees you will be responsible for, and what will be shouldered by the property management or your potential landlord. There are many ways to find a real estate agent who helps not only home buyers or sellers but also services renters. You can check online for local rental listings and websites of real estate firms. You may also know about reliable real estate agents from personal referrals. Ask your families or friends for the names of experienced agents whom they've already worked with when they bought or sold a home. Chances are even if they don’t work with rentals, they probably have a colleague or a team member who also deals with rentals with whom they can connect you.   Bottom Line Hiring a local real estate agent to help you find that perfect rental property you're aiming for means you can take advantage of the professional’s knowledge and expertise of the general real estate market. Depending on your location, an agent can be a godsend to help leverage your property search. They can also be helpful when you're negotiating terms with your potential landlord. So go ahead. Understand your situation and explore your options so you can make smarter decisions as a renter. Whether you plan to get help from a realtor or not, the lessons and experiences you acquire from being a renter will help you when you start your house-hunting later on. You never know, the real estate agent that helped you score a nice apartment may also be the one to help you find your dream home when the time comes.

Moving is complicated and stressful. There's more to it than buying several boxes, packing your stuff and relocating to your new home because, in reality, there are a lot of things that could go wrong. Here are some of the most common moving mistakes, and tips on how to avoid them through proper planning and allocating enough time towards the process.   1. Miscalculating how many boxes you'll need. Before packing your things, try to come up with a good estimate of the number of boxes you need. If you fall short, take note of what you already have — such as suitcases and dresser drawers — and use them as makeshift moving containers to cut down on the costs of boxes.   2. Not getting enough padding for your items. Having enough padding materials is necessary if you don't want to end up with broken items when you arrive in your new home. You will need a good stock of bubble wrap or thick packing paper to cushion fragile items and protect your furniture edges from scratches. Likewise, you can also use personal items such as linens, blankets, bedding, and even clothes and dish towels to wrap up any fragile and sharp objects and fill in the gaps in their moving boxes.   3. Forgetting to label your boxes. “Labeling boxes is Moving 101,” according to Moving.com. When you pack your things, don't forget to have markers and tape with you to organize your stuff. Knowing what things are included in each box will also lessen the time it will take you to unpack.   4. Packing your things at the last minute. Even if you're the least organized person and you plan to just throw things into moving boxes, remember that packing takes time. You thought it’ll only take you an hour to pack the things in your bedroom when in reality, it could take you a whole day to sort through your stuff. The kitchen might even take you 2-3 days, especially if you have any delicate items that need to be carefully wrapped and stored. Remember to give yourself enough time and be realistic about how much it will take you to tackle each area in your home. You can avoid the stress of trying to pack on a tight timeline when you plan these things ahead.   5. Not preparing a moving essentials bag. A moving essentials bag is a duffel bag, backpack, or a suitcase where you can easily access the things you'll need on the day of your move and the few days after it. It’ll be convenient for you since you won’t have to rummage through all your moving boxes just to find a basic item you’re looking for. Fill it with your personal items and necessities such as your wallet, keys, medications, basic toiletries, important documents, electronics and chargers, a few clothes, etc. If you have kids, remember to have them pack their own essentials bag, as well.   6. Not getting rid of things you no longer need. Sort through your items and simply throw out the things you no longer need. Remember that the fewer things you have to move, the better and less stressful it can be for you. You can save time, money, and effort, and won't have to waste resources like boxes, padding, and fuel. So don’t waste time packing stuff you don’t really need, only to unpack them again in your new home without knowing where those things will fit. You can donate your stuff or give them to family members once they no longer serve a purpose in your life.   7. You choose to DIY your move instead of getting professional help. Think twice before deciding to DIY your move instead of hiring the expertise of a professional moving company to save money. Remember that a DIY move may not be as cheap if you will count these major pitfalls, such as wear and tear on your body, damage to household goods, and unexpected fuel costs. Even if you have friends who are willing to help, it's still labor-intensive and risky.   Hiring moving experts will help you in assessing the size of your move. They are also a great help for moving belongings and furniture, lifting heavy items, and handling the move in a safe and organized manner. You will do yourself a favor if you hire the pros, especially if you have a truck’s worth of heavy belongings.   8. Not anticipating the cost of your move. Most movers offer estimates, not quotes, so you can have a general idea of what your move will cost you. This will be helpful especially if you're trying to keep costs in a certain range. Figure out how much you need to budget so you won’t be surprised in case there’s a fuel surcharge or you will need significant add-on services from the movers. Experts recommend that you get at least three estimates from different moving companies. Also, don’t forget to ask questions about possible hidden fees, especially if you’re considering the cheapest bid.   9. You didn't check your insurance. With moving insurance, there are many policies and coverage levels to choose from. Before choosing a moving company, ask about what types of coverage options are available to you and whether you need to get more than what's being offered. This is also the time to review your homeowner's insurance policy if it offers additional moving insurance to know which works best for your move.   10. You forget that plants and animals have special needs when moving. With all the other things you're worried about, it’s unavoidable to forget the special needs of our pets and even plants when moving. You can’t just throw them in the box or load them in your car. Make sure that before moving day, your pet has current shots, tags, papers, and certificates, especially if you are moving from one state to another.   Keep in mind that lots of movers won’t handle plants especially if you’re crossing state lines. If you’re planning to bring them by car, remember to first check with the USDA for specific rules and regulations in the state where you’re relocating. If you find out you can’t move your plants, you may opt to donate them to friends, the community garden, or the local retirement home.

As a renter, there's nothing more valuable than maintaining a good relationship with your landlord or property manager. One way you can keep a positive connection is by being honest and upfront right from the start. However, one surefire way to form a negative relationship is to lie or hide things from them. And because you will usually be found out anyway, you’ll have to deal with the consequences of your actions sooner or later. This could make your life more stressful in the long run. Some of the most common things tenants hide from their landlord include pets, a roommate, damage or problems to the property, running a business, or even DIY repairs or improvements. While many of these things might not seem like a big deal to you as a renter, there are reasons why landlords choose to enforce these rules to their unit in the first place. Here are some of the things that might cost you if you’ve been dishonest to your landlord: 1. MONEY Hiding things from your landlord can definitely cost you additional expenses. If you are lucky enough, you will be simply charged with a fine and be required to pay extra rent or deposits as outlined in your lease. If your landlord discovers that you're secretly keeping a furry friend—which could be against your apartment’s pet policy—the management company could slap you with a hefty fine or charge back pet rent and deposit. In one of the worst-case scenarios, they may even ask to remove your pet and may consider terminating your lease. And that security deposit you’re holding onto that you can put towards a new place may be forfeited. 2. A PLACE TO LIVE More than a simple fine, you can also get evicted if you break rental contract rules.Landlords have their reasons when they say they don’t want a pet or an unlisted roommate in their rental property. Your pets may not be covered by their insurance, and unlisted people may not be held liable if they caused damage to the property. It is simply not worth it to skirt the rules and breach the terms of your lease if it would mean you’ll be out of place to live. To avoid a stressed out life brought about by the ramifications of breaking your rental contract, do some research before you sign the lease. 3. CREDIT SCORE If you’re still hoping to own a house as part of your American Dream, this can be one of the most important things you don’t want to risk while you’re still a tenant. If your landlord decides to evict you for breaking the terms of your lease, it can seriously affect your credit rating. And having a good credit score is certainly crucial for finding a new rental place or getting approved for a mortgage loan. It plays a big role especially when time comes for you to buy a home. The eviction may cause a serious drop in your credit score and it will likely appear on future tenant screening reports. 4. LEGAL ACTION We know it’s something we all want to avoid, but hiding things from your landlord could even be a cause for a lawsuit if things escalate further. Some states allow landlords to sue tenants for damages or repairs they caused during their occupancy. It’s even a more likely scenario if your pet accidentally bites someone or your additional roommate incurred damage to the unit. As the renter, you have the option to countersue, but just think of how much time and money it might cost you during the process. Your landlord may also choose to take legal action if you refuse to pay fines or bills to cover the damages to the property. 5. YOUR REPUTATION Aside from paying for additional expenses, losing your place to live, and risking an attractive credit score, what about your reputation? And we’re talking here about you losing a good rental reference, which is necessary when it’s time for you to apply to a new apartment. Even if your landlord is kind enough to let you stay on his property and only charges you with a fine, he/she will still likely bring up the dishonesty with your prospective landlords. Or the property’s management company could give you a negative review every time they areasked about your performance and reputation as a tenant. Without strong references from past landlords, this could make it rather difficult to secure a nice place that you actually want to live in. Bottom Line While rules differ from state to state and the consequences of your actions depend on the severity of the situation and the rental management style, being honest to your landlord is still the best policy. Do some research on the rental property before you sign the lease. If you want to move in with your pet or have been planning to get one soon, choose a pet-friendly unit where you'll need to pay the necessary pet deposit and extra charges. If you have a friend who wants to temporarily move in, get written permission beforehand to know if it’s even possible. Likewise, read your rental agreement carefully before you dare break the rules. At the end of the day, always contemplate the lesson of the old maxim: “Honesty is the best policy.”