Research New Communities/Neighborhoods Washington DC

Whether you're planning to move across town or across the country, you probably want to know more about your new community. Where are the best local schools? Where are crime rates the lowest? What neighborhoods, or even streets, do the locals consider the most desirable?

Finding out the answers to questions such as these is important not only for your quality of life, but to ensure that your home will have a high resale value.

Start by visiting the following websites:

• www.bestplaces.net. You'll find more than dry statistical data here -- everything from the best cities for dating to the worst ones for contracting respiratory infections are reported on.
• www.moving.com. For tools and articles including school reports, city comparisons, and demographic data, click the "Real Estate" tab.
• www.claritas.com. This site has a feature that analyzes the types of people who live in a given zip code -- divided into categories like "blueblood," "urban achievers," and "Bohemian mix." Click "Free Stuff," then "You Are Where You Live."
• www.homefair.com. This site offers calculators to estimate your moving costs, school reports, city reports, crime statistics, and much more.
• www.homepages.com. Nominated for a Webby award in 2006, this site is genuinely fun, with satellite views of neighborhoods and buttons you can click to highlight schools, parks, restaurants, and more (complete with click-through names and addresses).

If you're hoping to use public transportation after you move, give the local bus or subway line a "test run."

Local newspapers, particularly those that have a real estate section, are another good resource for finding out about new neighborhoods.

For more detailed information, visit the local library or city planning department. And for more tips on evaluating neighborhoods, including advice from Bert Sperling, the guru of neighborhood research himself, see Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, by Ilona Bray, Alayna Schroeder, and Marcia Stewart.