If you have never been to Lake County and not familiar with our communities then I highly recommend that you make a few trips here to become familiar with our areas.  Go into the various towns. Check out the local services; see if the neighborhoods are appealing.  No point wasting your time and an agent’s time looking at listings if you don’t like the area.  When you are satisfied with a select set of areas then is the time to schedule showings in those areas.

Here are Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood:

1. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engaging in your most common activities.  Lake County Visitors Centers are located in Lucerne, Lakeport and Middletown.  The county will send you a visitor packet loaded with lots of information about Lake County click here to request a packet be sent to you.
2. Check out the school district. The Lake County Office of Education can provide information about test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Even if you don’t have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.
3. Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the county sheriff and police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?  Lake County Sherriff can be reached at (707) 262-4200.  City of Clearlake Police (707) 994-8251,  City of Lakeport Police Department (707) 263-5491
4. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with the county economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?  Check the County Demographics
5. See if you’ll make money. Ask about market trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. I or local government planning agencies may be able to tell you about planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or highway—that might affect value. Another county resource is the Lake County Redevelopment Agency call 707-263-2580.
6. See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?