Find information on relocation decisions, including schools, housing costs, and community resources.

Whether you're planning to move across town or across the country, you probably want to know more about your new community. Where are the best local schools? Where are crime rates the lowest? What neighborhoods, or even streets, do the locals consider the most desirable?

Finding out the answers to questions such as these is important not only for your quality of life, but to ensure that your home will have a high resale value.

Start by visiting the following websites:

• http://www.moving.com. This is an information portal for people relocating. For tools and articles including school reports, city comparisons, and demographic data, click the "Real Estate" tab.
• http://www.claritas.com. This site has a feature that analyzes the types of people who live in a given zip code -- divided into categories like "blueblood," "urban achievers," and "Bohemian mix." Click "Free Resources," then "You Are Where You Live."
• http://www.homestore.com. Here, you can compare your neighborhood with the one you're thinking of moving to, by clicking "Community Close-up" and entering both zip codes.
• http://www.homefair.com. This site offers calculators to estimate your moving costs, school reports, city reports, crime statistics, and much more.

If you already live near your new prospective community, or will be visiting it before your home purchase, your next step is to get out and take a look around. Walk and drive around the various neighborhoods. Ask people washing their cars or watering their lawns what they like and dislike about the area, and where the "best" nearby places to live are. While you're at it, ask about favorite local coffee shops or restaurants, and visit them yourself. This gives you another opportunity to meet and chat with locals.

If you're hoping to use public transportation after you move, give the local bus or subway line a "test run."

Local newspapers, particularly those that have a real estate section, are another good resource for finding out about new neighborhoods. For more detailed information, visit the local library or city planning department.