Useful Tools When Buying a Home - What about Schools

Wait - was that a school bell that just sounded?

If you live near a school, you may already be hearing the ringing of the bells as local schools gear up for students to arrive. While school may not be in session this week, those bells signal that it’s time to prepare. Time to sharpen the pencils, search out the best in backpacks, and make some plans for the new year.

Students and parents know a brighter future follows preparation, and the same can be said when buying a home. Do you have the tools you need to know if your new home is the best you can afford?

Is there a school where you can learn how to buy a home?

I’m sure you could find them - the internet caters to all needs these days - however, your best choice is to do a little research and then choose to work with a real estate agent that KNOWS your area, someone like me. Knowing your neighborhood means being aware of similar property values, market trends, crime statistics, and the local schools. When you trust your agent to help you in determining home pricing and neighborhood values, you'll find the home buying and selling process much easier. Real estate can be tricky and you'll be ahead of the pack if you rely on your agent to share their knowledge of the town you are exploring.

If you want to do your own research on any area, here are some resources for you to consider.

• General Town Info - City Data  (Also check out individual town websites.)
• Local Business & Entertainment - Yelp
• Crime Stats - Neighborhood Scout
• Sex Offenders - Federal Resource
• School Stats - Great Schools
• Weber School District - K-12
• Davis School District - K -12
• Box Elder District - K-12  
• Morgan School District - K-12

In particular when evaluating a neighborhood, consider the school district and the individual school. School statistics change year to year, but general trends can be determined.  If you have a family you’ll of course have different needs regarding schools than someone who is retired, however the tone of the school often matches the neighborhood and community values, so it’s wise to take a look. The amount a school district or individual school spends per child, the teacher turn-over rate, and parent satisfaction ratings can all provide you with information, along with traditional API scores.  Schools can have an affect on the long-term sales of a home and your happiness with your community at large.

GREAT NEWS.....Utah foreclosure rate drops to 26th in Nation

SALT LAKE CITY — SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah's foreclosure rate is the 26th highest in the nation after posting a more than 70 percent drop in activity since last July.

Data released Thursday by RealtyTrac Inc. shows that one in 1,284 Utah housing units saw a foreclosure filing in July. That's 11 percent down from June.

Utah foreclosure filings have been dropping quickly in the past few months. In April, the state had the 7th highest foreclosure rate - with one in 419 homes seeing a foreclosure filing.

Nationwide, foreclosure activity is down slightly. The number of default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions was down 3 percent from June and 10 percent from last July.

California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Illinois had the highest foreclosure rates in the nation in July.

Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night

Whether you are a long time resident or have just moved into a new home, doing your part to be enhance your neighborhood and build friendships on your block will increase your personal happiness with your home.

Being a supportive and caring neighbor can be as simple as creating conversation or lending a hand with a garbage can or newspaper.  However, you can also show appreciation with sharing your talents in the garden or kitchen.

Are you aware that August 8th is a national holiday? Officially declared, “Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night,” this is the perfect chance to get to know your neighbors!

Whether you bring over some of your garden’s treasures or just a few freshly baked muffins, you definitely have a reason now to open conversation and get to know the people living on your block. If you’d rather share the wealth anonymously, the feelings of goodwill will still remain, but why not adopt this as a chance to make a new friend?  I bet just reading ”Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night” made you smile, and it’ll make your neighbors grin, too.

There are a wealth of  zucchini recipes online or you can use your tried and true favorites.  Of course, just dropping off the squash with a note works, too!  Have fun being a good neighbor and let me know how it goes and how many people you meet!