There are areas of Houston that are scary in the day time. At night only the fool hardy and the criminals venture forth. Economic circumstances have put many good people in harm’s way. Overcrowding, lack of money, no family, drugs, and alcohol have all contributed to making some areas undesirable. You do not want to buy a home in a high crime area.
As a realtor, my most moving experience was with a client I will call Big Tex. He was at least 6 feet 4 inches tall with arms that superman would have envied. Big Tex drove the biggest pickup truck I have ever seen. It sat high in the air with double wheels in the back, a long bed and an extended cab. He bought a new home from me to live in with his 12 year old daughter. At closing this mountain of a man was so emotional he cried. His tears were tears of joy for living in a home where and his daughter did not hear gunfire at night. I cried with him and have never forgotten the importance of living in a safe neighborhood.
There are many websites which give safety statistics for Houston crimes. Some are better than others. None can match the statistics provided by the Houston Police Department. I have checked some of these sites and found no crimes, then gone online to the Houston police department and found that there were crimes in the area.
The Houston police department website gives monthly statistics. The website is not the most user friendly but it is the most accurate. First, you have to find the area, then the beat of the patrol to track crime statistics. The statistics are listed by offense type. Murder and rape are at the top of the list, theft at the bottom. The website gives you the hour the offense occurs. Suprisingly tracking an area for a year I found that noon to three, and late at night were equal for crime offenses.
We as realtors do our best to find safe, friendly neighborhoods for our clients. I advise my clients to spend sometime in the neighborhood they are thinking of buying. Visit the neighborhoods on weekends when people are at home. Walk the neighborhood and interact with the people you meet. If the area does not feel right or the crime statistics are high, choose another neighborhood. Houston has many fine neighborhoods in which to raise your family.
Have a question about a property? Want to learn more about the Houston Real Estate Market? Ready to tour your favorite homes today? Contact Inner Loop Realtor Bill Edge now.