As I noted yesterday, I’m playing along with ProBlogger’s daily topics.  Today we’re told to blog about a question we’ve received.  I typically do that instantly so I have nothing pending, so I’ll address a question I see and hear Realtors get frequently.

QUESTION: “What is the best neighborhood to live in?”

Uh oh.  Red bells go off regarding fair housing and how anyone defines “best” (or “good” or “safe” for that matter).  This is one of the few questions Realtors hear that there is a scripted answer that doesn’t vary much (unless someone doesn’t actually care if they keep their license).

ANSWER: “There are plenty of Internet resources you may use to make a decision for yourself…”

“Best” to one person may mean the cleanest, to another the most prestigious, to another top ranked schools.  A Realtor should never (and typically don’t) assume what the asker means, rather refers them to resources that allow them to make their own decision.   Sperling’s Best Places is my favorite resource bar none.  Local police departments will publish sex offender lists, NCES has basic facts about schools and CNN Money rates cities every year based on a plethora of criteria.  No Realtor can answer this question under any circumstances- the Internet is an amazing tool and the main point of reference.