The Movers.com Blog

NeighborhoodScout. Image courtesy NeighborhoodScout.com

One of the biggest obstacles for anyone planning a move is finding a new place to live. Aside from the house itself, there are several things to consider about any potential new neighborhood.

NeighborhoodScout, an application based on computer mapping and relocation software, provides users with all the necessary information about neighborhoods throughout the country.

Just type in any city or town, and NeighborhoodScout brings up a map and a detailed description of the area. You can then choose to view how the city’s different neighborhoods rank in regard to public schools, appreciation rates, and crime rates. While you have to subscribe to the site to view the detailed information, such as test scores of public schools and actual real estate appreciation rates, the free service provides a lot of information to help you find a new neighborhood.

The application also gives you free access to a directory of over 130,000 realtors and real estate agents who can help you buy or sell a home. After filling out a short questionnaire, NeighborhoodScout will connect you with a pre-screened realtor in your chosen location.

NeighborhoodScout’s most interesting feature, in my opinion, is its neighborhood match option. By typing in your address and entering the city you are moving to, or even just the state, you are presented with a list of neighborhoods similar to your current one. For instance, if (and this is a big if) I lived in Malibu and wanted to move to Miami, NeighborhoodScout suggests that I relocate to the Coconut Grove neighborhood of that city. After searching for areas in Montana that resemble our office’s home in North Brunswick, NJ, the City Center neighborhood of Miles City appears as the top match.

The site also lets you search for homes using a variety of options. You can find neighborhoods that are best for families with children, retirees, students, or first-time home buyers. Also, you can find neighborhoods based on real estate investment potential.

According to the site, there will soon be a “Build your own neighborhood” feature that will allow users to select their preferences for over 60 characteristics. The NeighborhoodScout search engine would then reveal the neighborhoods that most closely match the chosen criteria.

I was really surprised to see all of the services that NeighborhoodScout provides, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of information they have about every single neighborhood in the country. This application can be incredibly useful to anyone planning a move. Instead of spending time researching a bunch of neighborhoods, with a couple clicks of the mouse, NeighborhoodScout does all the work for you.