I have found that attending a local meeting of the HOA or PTA is one of the best sources of information about an area. In my opinion, there is no better resource than someone that lives in the neighborhood and has children that attend school there.

• Look for things like access to major thoroughfares, highways, and shopping.
• Listen for noise created by commerce, roads, railways, public areas, schools, etc.
• Smell the air for smells that may indicate nearby commerce, agriculture, land fills, waste treatment, pig farms, etc.
• Check the area through Google Earth or similar internet programs to see what is in the area.
• Check the FEMA flood maps to see what flood zone the area is in and check with your Home Owner’s Insurance Company to find out about the cost of insuring the property that you are interested in.
• Check with local civic, police, fire, and school officials to find information about the area like crime statistics and sex offenders. Most police departments have a website with local crime statistics.
• Check the Texas Sex Offender Registry to find out if any sex offenders are living in the area and what kind of offenses that they have committed.
• Check for power lines that carry high voltage that might affect health or resale value.
• Check for the number of houses for sale in the area, how long it takes for a house to sell, and how many foreclosures there were in the past year.
• Check to see how many houses are used as lease property.
• Look at traffic patterns around the area during different times of the day and drive from the area to work.
• Find out if the neighborhood is near parks, churches, recreation centers, shopping, theaters, restaurants, public transportation, schools, etc.
• Check the houses in the area to see if burglar bars on lots are common.
• Find out if the neighborhood belongs to a Homeowner’s Association.
• Check the property tax rate, HOA dues, MUD taxes, other fees for the area.