Selecting neighborhoods and areas to invest

[Jeff Pagano]

Hello everyone, 

Like many on BP, I am new to the real estate world.  I joined bigger pockets about 4 years ago then took a hiatus.  In that time I got married, purchased my own home in NJ, and had a baby so learning about real estate took a back seat.  Now that things have settled down a bit I want to begin learning about the business again.  I'm mainly interested in buy&hold rentals.

One question I'm always wondering about is how are investors selecting areas to buy in?  New Jersey as any resident knows is a tough market and very expensive (it took us over a year to find our house), but I assume that it is relative wherever you may be.  

Are there any tools investors use to select neighborhoods?  If so what are some strategies/things to look for?

What are some things to avoid when looking for areas to buy?   

If anyone can offer any insight or advice I'd appreciate it!  

[Joe Splitrock]

@Jeff Pagano housing desirability partly depends on the type of housing. For example single family homes are more desirable if they are close to good schools because they are more likely to attract families. People want a nice yard and quiet street when they are looking at homes. Apartments may be desirable if they are close to employers. Low crime makes any location more desirable, so you can usually search crime maps. You can tell a lot by driving down a street or "virtual driving" using Google street view. Look at how well people maintain yards. Look for trash piles, boarded up windows or other signs the neighborhood is deteriorating. 

Location is the single most important factor when selecting a property. Everything but location can be changed. 

Welcome back to BP!