Money Magazine has come out with their list of the top 100 places to live in 2008 and topping the list this year, another Midwest city, Plymouth, Minnesota.? Money says it’s the topnotch schools, good jobs, affordable housing, low crime and the active culture that combine together to make Plymouth one of the best cities around.

The people of Plymouth have spoken up and, of course, they agree with Money Magazine’s assessment. Most of the residents on the city’s official website mention the parks as the reason this city is so dear to them. And rightfully so, the city prides itself on the extensive park system and 80 miles trails. There are community playfields, large multi-purpose areas, city parks, small neighborhood parks and even a skate park.

Another comment a lot of residents make is that the town is very safe, part of this may have to do with the strict rules at city parks and other public areas. No motorized vehicles are allowed in parks, neither is alcohol or smoking. Neighborhood parks close at 10pm and all pets must be on a leash. It may seem a little restrictive but it is one of the reasons everyone feels comfortable in the parks and the city of Plymouth. ?To see which other cities have ranked highly on the annual poll, check Money Magazine’s article.

It happens time and time again, people buy a home because they love certain aspects, but once they move in the discover aspects they don’t love at all. The biggest complaint, one I suffer from myself, is the neighbors aren’t all you had hoped for.

For some people the problem is the neighbors are too strict and there is a rule book governing just about everything for your subdivision. This is a new occurrence but it’s become quite common. From not being able to hang your laundry on the line to regulations on your landscaping. Unless you’re willing to begin an organization or head the subdivision group that is in place, there isn’t much you can do to change these laws. And even then it’s going to be an uphill battle to get the support you need. Your best bet was reading all of the information before you made the purchase.

For me the problem was a bit different, our local government is trying to clean up a high crime area of town by simply moving the problem residents into a different area, unfortunately it’s the area where I live. To combat this the neighbors have banned together and improved lighting, hired a private security firm, spoken regularly with local police, we’re extra vigilant and there are regular community walks in the evening hours. Again, not much else can be done as we cannot force tenants to leave.

The one thing people in both situations could have done to mitigate this problem before the home was purchased was spending a little time in the area during all hours of the day, early morning, after school, and the evening hours. This way you’d get a better feel for how the neighborhood acts on a regular basis. And while you’re there, stop and chat with a few potential neighbors. Most people will welcome the chance to tell you about where they live if you explain that you’re considering a home purchase in their neighborhood.

With housing prices dropping there are a lot more real estate deals to be had out there and people who are in a good financial and professional position may be tempted to leap at these great deals. The problem - if they already own a home they may find that they’re property value has dropped and selling just isn’t going to rake in the money they wanted. Some of you may in fact find that you’re actually upside down on your mortgage. (more…)