Let’s talk about location, location, location, the saying is repeated 3 times for emphasis, and it’s the number one rule in real estate. What does this mean to you when you’re making a real estate purchase? Everything, location is everything. Let’s cover the basics. Real estate abutting rivers, lakes, forests and oceans hold their value very well and any home with a good scenic view pretty much guarantees a solid investment. Neighborhoods that show pride of ownership should always be your target. If you can also find properties close to Entertainment, Public Transportation, Health care and Shopping you’ve got the basics figured out on a good location. In reality it’s almost easier to talk about what constitutes a bad location than to discuss good locations. Bad locations, by their general nature, are easier to pinpoint. Some locations to avoid would be any neighborhood that has graffiti on 1 in every 3 homes and if you see toilets in the yard that are currently in use and I don’t mean as some type of landscaping art, this would be another area to avoid. If you see several old motorhomes and everyone has a sign on it that says “for rent by the hour” again this may not be the best area. Going green is big these days but if more than a few neighbors are trying to create the perfect eco system in there yard by going with the “jungle look” just keep driving on. These are the type of neighborhoods that you don’t really know your neighbors but if you had to identify them, a police lineup is where you would expect to have to do that. Just follow these basic rules and you will find the perfect location.