My Neighborhood shows you the future

The Crime Data Explorer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation gathers crime reports nationwide. Although it does not display crime mapping based on addresses, you can access crime information for your state, city, or any location. The data is categorized by types of crimes, such as violent crime rate, hate crime, property crime, and arrests.

To find information about a neighborhood, you can refer to various government websites that provide relevant data and resources. Here are some commonly used government sites:

• U.S. Census Bureau (census.gov): The U.S. Census Bureau provides demographic data, including population statistics, household income, education levels, and more.
• City or Municipal Websites: The official websites of cities or municipalities often contain valuable information about local services, government initiatives, zoning regulations, and community programs. You can search for the website of the specific city or town you're interested in.
• CrimeMapping.com: This website allows you to access crime data and crime maps for various locations in the United States. It provides information on reported crimes and their locations, helping you assess the safety of a neighborhood.
• Department of Education Websites: State or local Department of Education websites offer information on schools, school districts, academic performance, and other educational resources. You can find data on school rankings, test scores, and programs offered.
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Neighborhood Watch: The FHA Neighborhood Watch website provides information on mortgage delinquencies, foreclosures, and property flipping activity. It can give you insights into the stability and financial health of a neighborhood.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA website offers resources to check environmental factors such as air quality, water quality, and potential environmental hazards in a specific area. Their interactive maps and databases provide valuable information for assessing the ecological conditions of a neighborhood.
• National Park Service (nps.gov): If you're interested in knowing about nearby national parks, historical sites, or recreational areas, the National Park Service website can provide information about these locations and their amenities.

Choosing the ideal neighborhood for you and your family is vital when considering a move to a new place, especially if you're seeking a fresh start. Apart from finding a suitable house, it's crucial to understand the process of researching and identifying the perfect neighborhood. So, what factors should you consider when selecting the ideal locality?

Here are some tips for choosing the best neighborhood to buy a home.

• Decide on the preferred setting: Choose between city, rural, or suburban areas, considering factors such as neighbors, amenities, space, and noise levels.
• Research safety and crime statistics: Check online resources and contact the local police department to gather information on neighborhood crime rates, any record of registered sex offenders in the area, community policing, and neighborhood security measures such as the installation of security cameras in parks, etc.
• Evaluate neighborhood appearance and maintenance: Take a walk or use Google Street View to assess the overall condition of houses, streets, and sidewalks. Look out for vacant properties and potential commercial developments that may impact the neighborhood.
• Consider proximity to shopping and restaurants: Ensure that necessary amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, and shops are conveniently located nearby. Assess the noise levels from nearby bars and clubs.
• Look into schools and daycare centers: If you have children or plan to have them in the future, consider the accessibility, safety, and ranking of schools and daycare programs in the neighborhood.
• Research home values and property taxes: Examine current property values and compare them to past market trends. Check for future development plans that may affect property taxes and traffic in the area.
• Consider the type of property: Choose a neighborhood that aligns with the type of home you desire, whether it's a high-rise condominium, a single-family home, or a planned community with amenities.
• Assess parks and community programs: Check if the neighborhood has well-maintained parks suitable for children and pets, indicating a child-friendly and community-oriented environment.
• Evaluate proximity to work: Test the commute time during rush hour and consider alternative transportation options. Assess the reliability of public transportation and its compatibility with your work schedule.
• Explore the neighborhood firsthand: Rent an Airbnb or spend time driving, walking, and observing the neighborhood on different days. Engage with local residents for insights into the neighborhood's culture and lifestyle.

You can do your bit to ensure neighborhood safety. By making some easy changes in your neighborhood, you can make it a safer place for everyone. Some steps you can take include building relationships with your neighbors, organizing collective safety initiatives, maintaining your yard, installing a security system, practicing caution when you're not home, keeping your windows and blinds closed at night, improving the street lighting, and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.

The tool helps you gauge a neighborhood before you finally decide to make it your home. You can get to know all the juicy details about your dream home. Be the first to know about:

• Which one of your neighbors is spending on home remodeling, and how much?
• You can see the various building permits filed in your neighborhood including details such as the type of construction, the permit date, the name of the general contractor who worked on the home improvement project, and the cost of the permit.
• The best schools in your neighborhood. This feature is a boon for young families.
• Distance from local facilities such as hospitals, gymnasiums, fitness clubs, parks, and biking as well as hiking trails.
• The crime rate and safety measures in the neighborhood.
• Any upcoming remodels, commercial buildings, and new home construction projects near you, all before construction starts.
• And the area’s potential for property investment or ROI.

Kukun is serious about helping you get the most from your home investment so you can live well and safely while growing your home equity. And, admit it, knowing the details about what’s coming to your neighborhood is just plain fun!

Know what is happening

Besides the obvious signs of construction such as zoning changes, site grading, or public notice signs for proposed projects on vacant land, you can find some vital clues that a large-scale development is being planned in the area. So, if you’re wondering, “What are the major construction projects near me?” My Neighborhood is all the help you need.

Get real estate information

This feature is like a geographic information system that will keep you abreast with the proposed projects in the area. That way, you can get a good start with your long-term financial planning, and evaluate your opportunities to sell and make a good profit.

Invest safely

The fact is, there’s nothing like a major business development to turn an area, and its market value, around. For those looking to buy an investment property, it’s perhaps one of the most important things to hope for. While buying a home in an area that witnesses a lot of development — with homes being constructed, remodeled, or repaired — is a blessing, there is such a thing as over-building. Not many potential home buyers in a seller’s market prefer a primary residence near a high-density neighborhood construction.

Check neighborhood safety

Before committing to a new home, it is advisable to conduct an investigation into the general safety of the area. Fortunately, Kukun helps you with vital information about neighborhood profiles. It’s the next best thing to your friendly neighborhood watch program!

With just an email address and your home address, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of My Neighborhood.

1. Verify your email address
2. Enter your home address and zip code

And that’s it. Your neighborhood report is ready! You can begin exploring your neighborhood activities in seconds!

And, you'll get updates every few months so that you don’t miss out on any neighborhood checks and newer developments in the area. And, this much fun!

Both My Neighborhood and iHomeReport are packed with important information that helps you get a feel of your dream home and the future value of your property. You get to stay on top of your neighborhood activities and the value of your investment. And, get to know about high return on investment remodeling projects.

These online services will give you the complete picture – of the neighborhood's quality of life, your housing, the livability score, neighborhood comps, and whether the property investment makes financial sense for you or not.

And once you zero in on your dream home, in your dream neighborhood, you can utilize My Maintenance to keep your house in top shape.

Homeownership should be as stress-free as possible and we’ll do everything we can to make it possible for you.