How can you tell if an area is safe? (Houston: apartments, foreclosure)

[Elipar]

I was looking through houses on HAR today, specifically in Pearland, Missouri City, and Sugarland. Well, on a forclosed home in Missouri City, the picture of the home had bars on the windows! Since I don't live in Houston, is there a way to tell if the neighborhood is safe? We'll be visiting for 2 days, so we don't have much time to investigate things ourselves. Thanks.

[Vicman]

1. When you first come down here get an apartment and see the subdivisions.

Then again, you should at first choose a safe apartment. Ask police about safe areas to settle.

Read this essay by the Houston Fire Department District 68: District 68 (http://www.firehouse68.com/district.aspx - broken link) - The department states that some apartments outside of 610 to the southwest look okay from the outside but in fact have gangs and drugs.

There are good apartments and subdivisions in Houston - You have to find them, though.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by Elipar

I was looking through houses on HAR today, specifically in Pearland, Missouri City, and Sugarland. Well, on a forclosed home in Missouri City, the picture of the home had bars on the windows! Since I don't live in Houston, is there a way to tell if the neighborhood is safe? We'll be visiting for 2 days, so we don't have much time to investigate things ourselves. Thanks.

What's the zip code?
The good zip in Missouri City is 77459... in fact it's quite desirable and affluent. The other zip code is more shaky. Sometimes bars on the windows is just because the home hasn't been updated since the 70's or 80's, our home in Memorial (which is a very good area) was that way.

[ericka709]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Ask police about safe areas to settle.

By far, this is the BEST option!!

[Bike4Life]

If you looking at forclosure homes, then you may not be able to afford it. Try an apartment outside of the Beltway.

Originally Posted by Elipar

I was looking through houses on HAR today, specifically in Pearland, Missouri City, and Sugarland. Well, on a forclosed home in Missouri City, the picture of the home had bars on the windows! Since I don't live in Houston, is there a way to tell if the neighborhood is safe? We'll be visiting for 2 days, so we don't have much time to investigate things ourselves. Thanks.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Bike4Life

If you are looking at foreclosure homes, then you may not be able to afford it.

Not necessarily...maybe she just wants a great price. It really bothered me when someone snagged a foreclosure deal on the same block as my house in Colorado...I swore next time I bought a house, I'd try to do the same!

[VII]

You really should visit the place during the daytime and at night to get a feel for it's safety.

Also, check the crime stats for the area and get the opinions of neighbors.

You may not have that much time, but make time to investigate your future neighborhood. Why would you not do so?

[predatorprey]

http://houstoncrimmaps.com/

You can search by zip code to find where, when, and what kind of crimes committed.

[Beto]

Originally Posted by predatorprey

http://houstoncrimmaps.com/

You can search by zip code to find where, when, and what kind of crimes committed.

http://www.houstoncrimemaps.com/ you forgot the e.

[Texas Mack]

You also need to determine in your own mind what you would consider to be safe. Your standards may be high and your tolerance for even petty crimes (like graffiti or petty theft or loud music playing) may be quite low.

In the city of Houston, there aren't many areas that are squeaky clean, most are pretty average in terms of crime in small to large cities. Some areas, however, are high volume crime areas that can make life absolutely miserable.

The suggestion to check with the various police-related websites for not only volume of crime in a given beat but the types of crime is a very good one. From this, I'd rent first to explore other options in the city or the county (or metropolitan area) and go from there.