Home buyers have access to more information in today’s internet connected society than ever before. Home buyers have become internet detectives, doing their home buying research online.
Years ago, a buyer would have to act as a detective to verify or uncover more information about a home; their sleuthing could take up lots of time at the court house and library, as well as interviewing neighbors. Besides the seemingly countless number of online resources for home searches, buyers today also have many internet resources available to them to obtain home and neighborhood information.
Home buyers are internet detectives.
Neighborhood and demographic information are now readily available online in many home search websites. For example, neighborhood information currently displayed includes information about a zip code that includes: home sale statistics; general population demographics; economic, school information and environmental information; and even information about quality of life. Other popular search sites with lots of valuable information include (but not limited to): zillow.com, trulia.com, and redfin.com.
Many home buyers also look to greatschools.org as a reference for local school information. The website describes itself as a national non-profit whose mission is to “inspire and support families to champion their children’s education – at school, at home and in their community…”
As interest in the paranormal has increased, more people are interested in knowing if someone died in their home. For a fee, diedinhouse.com offers a report that could include: if a death occurred in the home, the name of the deceased, cause of death, list of previous residents, and possible information about the death.
Besides commercial websites; state, county and municipality websites also offer an abundance of information. For example, some of the local agencies that maintain websites hold valuable data to home buyers and owners. For example, the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ eProperty Data Mining Tool. The tool allows you to search multiple State and County databases for information about a home. Information that may be included: Department of Assessments and Taxation Real Property, code enforcement, permits, and Montgomery County Police.
Home buyers who are curious about neighborhood crime can find a number of commercial websites that map crime and offender information; however, to get accurate and timely information, you should probably look to the local police departments. By directing specific questions to the police by visiting local precincts, you can obtain a wealth of information. However, much of the information can also be viewed online: For example, the Montgomery County Police website has links to local crime statistics and even active warrants. The site also has a link to the sex offender registry (which is maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services) as well as information about receiving alerts when an offender moves into your zip code.
Another local agency that offers information is the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services. The website offers a data search tool that can display recent permit applications and permit status for a specific address. The site also includes zoning and code information. However, online County Master Plan (montgomeryplanning.org) information is offered by Montgomery County Planning Department, and can be viewed at.
As online resources grow, anyone can join the “internet detectives.” Although there are many online resources available, the websites listed here are not inclusive; I am not endorsing any commercial websites. Besides being cautious when visiting websites; you should acknowledge that many commercial sites are not 100% accurate, as disclaimers will disclose that technical and/ or reporting errors can occur in the collection and/or reporting of data.
Original located at https://dankrell.com/blog/2014/01/24/home-buyers-become-internet-detectives/
By Dan Krell
Copyright © 2014
Disclaimer. This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. Readers should not rely solely on the information contained herein, as it does not purport to be comprehensive or render specific advice. Readers should consult with an attorney regarding local real estate laws and customs as they vary by state and jurisdiction. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws.