Viewing Homes: The Drive-By

A drive-by is a great way to get a feel for a particular neighborhood, or to compare neighborhoods when you're still narrowing down your options. Even within a single area, neighborhoods can vary widely by walkability, commute times, atmosphere, dining and nightlife, schools, and other important quality-of-life factors.

While a lot of this research can be done online from the comfort of your laptop, there's no substitute for seeing an area in person. An hour or two driving around a neighborhood is a small cost compared to the investment you'll make in a home purchase.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when touring a neighborhood. We'll also suggest a few online resources to help you make the most of your time out and about.

Walkability is more than just the presence of sidewalks; it implies that you'll actually have worthwhile places to visit on your stroll down the street. If you have specific home in your sights, park your car and spend a little time walking around the neighborhood. If you're just checking out the general area, cruise around for a while to get a quick feel for the place. Take note of the following issues:

• Sidewalks: First, are there sidewalks? Are they level and in good condition? Are they wide enough for a wheelchair, stroller or tricycle? Are there busy streets that need to be crossed? Are crosswalks clearly marked?
• Destinations: Are there interesting places to walk? If you have kids, parks and playgrounds might be at the top of your list. What about coffee shops, grocery stores, libraries, bars, fitness venues, movie theaters, bus stops, or banks/ATMs?

When it comes to determining an area's walkability, it's hard to beat Walkscore.com. It calculates a numerical score based on a home's proximity to shops, restaurants, transit, schools, and much more.

How many homes are for sale in the area? If you see nothing but listing signs as far as the horizon, the neighborhood may have fallen on hard times. This can mean good deals, but may also mean a neighborhood that attracts crime, neglect, and demoralized neighbors. Pay special attention to homes listed as short sales or REOs -- large numbers of these homes can definitely signal a neighborhood in trouble.

If you're already here, you probably know how great our website is for finding homes for sale. Make sure to include short sales, bank foreclosures, and REOs in your search options to help gauge the health of the neighborhood.

See lots of homes for rent? It may be because would-be sellers have given up trying to sell their homes, and are just trying to cover the mortgage. Or, you may be in an area with a high student population. Rented homes tend to have higher turnover than owned homes, meaning you can expect to see people come in and out as the years roll by.

Rent.com lets you search specifically for rental homes. Condo shoppers can see condos for rent on Condo.com. You can also look on Craigslist for rentals within particular neighborhoods.

How far do you need to go for the nearest drink, or bite to eat? Does the neighborhood turn out the lights at 9pm, or are the good times just building momentum? Nearby bars and restaurants can be convenient, but can also contribute to late-night noise.

Yelp.com is a great resource for local businesses. It allows you to search by neighborhood, business type, price, and other factors, and shows you reviews from real users. Not only can you see what's nearby, you can find out if it's any good.

You don't necessarily have to visit a neighborhood to determine your commute time, but it can help. Are there any long-term construction projects or detours that could trip up your trip? How easy is it to get to major highways during high-traffic hours? If you pedal into work, will you have access to bike lanes? What about mass transit?

Google Maps not only allows you to plan your commute, but offers you a choice of vehicles when making its calculations. Want to determine your commute time driving? No problem. Biking? Sure thing. On foot? Done. Mass transit? Way ahead of you.

You can't judge a school solely by driving past it, but you can get a first impression. How close is the school? Does it look well-kept from the outside? Any troubling signs like graffiti, barbed-wire fences, or broken windows?

Keep in mind that a school's proximity to a home does not guarantee enrollment. If schools are a major factor in your decision, you should contact the local school district to find out about eligibility requirements.

GreatSchools is a non-profit organization designed to help parents get involved and stay involved with their children's education. It provides parent ratings of schools, as well as information about class sizes, test scores, extracurricular activities, and more. (Note: Redfin uses GreatSchools data, and makes it available on our site.)

This is one of those intangibles that can be impossible to experience without being there. What does the neighborhood feel like? Are homes and lawns well-kept? Are public areas clean and well-maintained? Are there nice views? Parks? Do the neighbors seem friendly, or do they glare at you like a vampire meeting a garlic farmer?

Is the neighborhood booming, or busting? Are shops opening up or boarded up? A quick drive through a neighborhood can give you a good snapshot of it's economic vitality.