Friday, June 16, 2006

Neighborhood Information

Buying a home and wondering what the neighborhood is like and what kind of people live there? Do sex offenders live close by? Will my kids be safe? What is the crime like? Well sorry but your Real Estate professional can't tell you! That's because they are not allowed to. They are selling homes not neighborhoods. For them to comment on what kind of people live on the street or to engage in any discussions with regard to the racial or ethic mix of a neighborhood could be considered discriminatory. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status. So trying to steer you to or away from a neighborhood based on discriminatory reasons is against the law. An agent could be fined and lose their license!

To know what the neighborhood is like drive around and look and decide where you want to live. What amenities are important to you, do you need to be close to your job, shopping, schools, churches etc? Then an agent can start looking for you.

Check out http://www.city-data.com/ Plug in the zip code and "voila"! Here is Gulf Breeze info.

FCAT Scores for 2006 in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties or go to Florida Dept of Education

How about sex offenders? Go to FL Department of Law Enforcement

Call the local Sheriff for local crime data.

Friday, June 02, 2006

National Flood Insurance Program Broke

Quote: Larry Wheeler
News Journal Washington bureau

"More bad news for homeowners in hurricane zones and other flood-prone areas: The National Flood Insurance Program is broke and has little hope of recovery unless Congress authorizes big premium increases and other changes...

That gloomy assessment by the Congressional Budget Office was released Thursday, the first day of the 2006 hurricane season.

The letter likely will speed consideration of a bill pending in the Senate that would increase monthly flood insurance premiums for some by as much as 25 percent while forcing other property owners to join the national program to broaden the risk pool"

So if you haven't gotten flood insurance yet because you think you don't need it, think again. I watched a storm watch program on WEAR Channel 3 the other night, and an expert was asked "Who needs flood insurance?" Answer "EVERYBODY"
You may not be in a flood zone, but sewers can back up and flood the street, flood zones changed every year. Remember what happened last year in the Greenbriar subdivision in Gulf Breeze! I say get it now while it is relatively inexpensive before they hike the cost up.