What neighborhood characteristics are important to you?

Apart from the obvious issues related to location (proximity to shopping, schools, transportation, etc.), what kind of environment do you prefer? Do you want to live on a street filled with children, or do you prefer a neighborhood of older families? Is traffic a concern - not just because of the potential risk to young children, but also because of a possible undesirable noise level?

When you picture yourself in your home, do you envision lots of interaction with your neighbors - block parties, friendly chats across the fence, etc. - or would you consider a cheerful, "How are you today," an unwelcome invasion of your privacy? In addition to getting a sense of the neighborhood's personality (and most neighborhoods have a distinct personality), you also want some more objective information about any area you're considering.

How well, or ill, are the houses maintained?

Are there new developments under way or planned in the area, and if so, what kind? A proposed new shopping center might be a welcome addition (although not necessarily), but presumably you would be less enthusiastic about a proposal for a hazardous waste dump nearby.

Where is the neighborhood in its life cycle? Is it a relatively young area, dominated by new homes, or a more established community in which homes are occupied by long-time residents and the turnover rate is low?

Is this a neighborhood on its way down, in which homes aren't well maintained, many are for sale and some are boarded up? Or is it a neighborhood that has hit bottom and is on its way back? (It can be difficult to tell, just by looking at a neighborhood, whether it has begun to recover or is still trapped in a downward spiral).

You'll find the answers to most of the questions you need to ask simply by looking around the neighborhood and talking to people who live there. Note the condition of the houses and the lawns. Does this seem to be an area in which people take pride, or one on which residents appear to have given up? Visit the street several times at different times of day and night. What level of activity do you see? If the streets are deserted during day, then you're either looking at an area in which everyone works, or an area occupied primarily by people suffering from agoraphobia.

What happens in the evening? On a nice, spring night, do you see a lot of people working in their yards, walking their dogs, etc. (a good sign), or do you see people huddled in the shadows, exchanging small packets and looking nervously over their shoulders (not such a good sign)? Are the streets well-lit? Is this an area in which you would feel comfortable walking around after dark? Is there a lot of traffic? Where do people park?

Is street-side parking likely to be a problem early in the morning, in the evenings or on weekends, when more people are at home?

What kinds of vehicles are parked on the street or in driveways - mini vans, trucks, disassembled automobiles, Harleys?

The residents, more than anything else, will set the tone of the neighborhood, so you want to know, "Who lives here?" Is the area dominated by families with young children or by college students? Obviously, you're talking about two very different climates.

The best way to find out what an area is like is by talking to the people who live there, so stop and chat with anyone you see, or knock on doors, tell residents that you're considering buying a home in the area, and ask what they like and don't like about the neighborhood.

If they were buying a home today, would they buy in the same area?

Ask what the neighborhood schools are like, if that's a concern, and ask people what they think of their neighbors. Do they even know who their neighbors are?

Most of the information you need will come first-hand from are residents, but there are other useful sources you should consult. Check the county Registry of Deeds or one of the publications that publishes real estate information, to find out what's happening in the local real estate market.

Are there a lot of homes for sale? Are they selling quickly? And what's happening to property values in the area? The real estate information will help you answer the basic question about where this neighborhood is in it life cycle.

For more general, "what's this area like" questions, the local community newspaper is probably the best overall source of information about politics, development projects and plans, and community issues and events.

This is where you should pick up on any brewing controversies - and unpopular development, a contested school bond issue, a proposal to establish an airport approach over the neighborhood - that might be of concern. Reading several issues of the paper can also give you a feel for the people and the area. You also should do some research at City Hall to find out about any development permits that have been approved for projects in or near the neighborhood you're considering; there may be something in the works that hasn't yet attracted the attention of the local newspaper.

While there are some things you can't know about a community until you live there, a little due diligence can either confirm your positive impressions or raise enough red flags to persuade you that you ought to be looking elsewhere.