It’s hard to ignore all the chatter about “going green” or “living a greener lifestyle” but what does that really mean? For some it means dramatic changes to their current way of life and for others it can be more simple. We want to share with you one simple way that you can participate in the green revolution with little work and other benefits.
www.walkscore.com is a website that allows you to enter an address and find all the amenities that are withink walking distance of your home. It maps out the different services for you and even gives you a score of 0-100 for how walkable your location is.

So next time you are thinking about how you can live a little more green lifestyle, not to mention the health benefits of walking, look up your walkscore and discover the services in your neighborhood.
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If you are a first time buyer or someone that has bought more houses than Donald Trump there are 3 questions that every home buyer needs to ask before buying a house.
1. How is the neighborhood?
Purchasing a house is a lot like getting married. Not only do you get a wife or husband, but you get the family that goes along with it. When you buy your house, you are pretty much stuck with the neighbors and the neighborhood. Take time to do a bit of research to find out what the neighborhood is like. Are there other children in the neighborhood for your kids? Is it near your usual conveniences? Is there a history of crime? Go to the neighborhood some evening while it is still light and go for a walk. You will be surprised about what a 30 minute walk will reveal.
Aside from asking the neighbors some questions (which is a great way to meet the neighbors) there are a few online tools you can use to do research. Google Maps can show you what businesses are in the area and www.SpotCrime.com can help you understand the crime trends:

2. Are there other “costs” associated with buying this home?
Nobody likes surprises when it comes to home buying. Association dues, tax assessments, limits to association members, high utilities, rural utilities, etc. can surprise a new homeowner. Ask your REALTOR© if they are aware of any of these things. Ask the neighbors about their associations, any current problems, and any potential raise in dues. Call the utility company and get an average utility cost to help you understand what your budget for utilities might be.
3. Has there been any significant damage to the home?
Although water and fire can be cleaned from a home they can often leave lasting effects that might not become apparent for some time. Water damage from a flood or fire hose can result in mold growing in walls and under carpet. Mold remediation can be quite expensive and time consuming. Smoke damage can discolor walls, causing peeling of paint and wallpaper, and can leave lasting smells in the house.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions a person can make. Taking the extra time to do a bit of research can make this process a lot more rewarding when you end up purchasing a great home in a great neighborhood!

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