Seattle: Buying a Home? What about Crime?
In This Post
Comprehensive tool by Bing Maps and The Seattle Police Department
The Seattle Police department has come out with an interesting crime mapping tool that will certainly be interesting to buyers and also to sellers, homeowners and renters. Part of crime prevention is being aware of it and then taking proactive steps to correct problems by cooperating with your local law enforcement agencies.
Here is a link to the what's called My Neighborhood Map. In conjunction with Bing Maps the Seattle Police Department has put together a wide variety of information besides crime and crime statistics on this site. One can find listings for Art and Recreation, Community Services, Education, Parks, Permits, Public Safety, Transportation and Utilities. This is a bookmark link for anyone who wants quick information for in and around Seattle.
It takes a little orientation to figure out everything that is available on the map but I can see many uses for it besides giving a buyer a link to check out crime statistics in the neighborhood where they are considering purchasing a home.
Glenn Roberts, SRES*
Lake and Company Real Estate
206-524-3665
Seattle Residential ~ I Do That
Licensed broker since 1985 offering spectacular service to buyers and sellers in greater Seattle, with particular interest in Green Lake, Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, Ravenna, Bryant, View Ridge, Roosevelt and the University District.
*Senior Real Estate Specialist
Referrals from past clients and other agents always make me smile.
In Colorado, it is up to the buyer to find this information!
Glenn, I could see some neighborhoods not wanting this information to get out :)
Joan - That's why I like giving them a link. If the SPD puts out bad information, it's not my fault.
Charlie - You talking about Lynnwood? :)
I am amused when looking at crime stats. Each city designates certain crimes differently (except homicide) and this makes them hard to compare.
Loved your Saturday post Glenn!
Paul
I think giving prospective buyers the link is great Glenn..............I doubt many others do. Very professional of you, whether they use the link or not, you made it available to them.
Paul - it seems law enforcement is as local as real estate (I didn't say loco).
Roger - I was selling a home in a hot market to a woman years ago. After we wrote the offer she went out and knocked on the doors of all the neighbors to see if she wanted to live in that neighborhood. There were 5 offers and we were $5,000 less than the best offer, but the seller took our offer because the neighbors had called him and demanded that he sell it to the woman who cared about the neighborhood. I learned a lot from her. But I learned also that it's the buyer's job to do that work.
It might be a good negotiation tool to submit the map in the offer.
"Based on current crime statistics, we can't offer more than..."