When your garbage cans are out five minutes after garbage pickup, they complain. When a car is parked outside their house -- legally, of course -- they get mad. Everything is a big deal to them. Those people are the Nightmare Neighbors, and they need to be avoided at all costs. 

“Neighbors matter: more than three-quarters of Americans say neighbors factor into their decision when choosing a new home,” said mortgage company Ally. They surveyed more than 2,000 Americans on their favorite and least favorite characteristics in a neighbor. “More than half of Americans report having had what they'd classify as a ‘nightmare neighbor’ in the past,” and 67% of the respondents said that “prior unhappy neighbor experiences make them realize the importance of good neighbors.” 

When you are deciding on a new home in Albuquerque, how do you know who your neighbors are truly? You do these three things: 

Ask

Unless one of your neighbors has done something legally required to be disclosed, asking the seller about your neighbors may not get you a straight answer. In any case, a seller has little reason to reveal if he dislikes the person next to him or across the street. At the end of the day, they want to make the sale. Even though they have had problems with a neighbor, it doesn't necessarily mean you will. 

A real estate agent may be able to get some information from the selling agent, because they have a duty to you. Other neighbors may also be able to help you. Is there anyone outside? Say hello!

Spy

If you're buying a house, it's always a good idea to make multiple visits at different times of the day and on different days. You won't get enough information from one short visit about what it's like to live there. 

It's best to get out of your car and walk around. “Ideally, you should try taking a few different routes on your walks around the neighborhood and go at different times of day,” said The Zebra. “It takes time, but the amount of valuable information you’ll get from it is well worth it before making a decision this big.”

Research

If you are planning to move, the first thing you should do is check a site like Family Watchdog to see if there are any sexual offenders in the neighborhood. A reverse address search can be done on a site like Spokeo to check the addresses of individual houses in a neighborhood. With just a few clicks, you can learn a lot. Addresses lead to names, and names lead to police activity or court records. 

It's a goldmine of information about the people who live in the neighborhoods in which you're interested if you can get access to the Nextdoor community site. Some neighborhoods also have Facebook pages that might provide you with valuable insight. 

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

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Beautiful 5 bedroom Stillbrooke home in highly sought after planned community! Main level features grand open floorplan w/gorgeous custom staircase; spacious great room opens onto breakfast nook & kitchen w/granite countertops, island & breakfast bar. Cathedral ceilings & Clerestory windows makes this home bright & light. Flexible floorplan could be 2 living areas: office & 5 bedroom plus loft, OR formal dining, greatroom, 5 bedrooms & loft/media area. Master suite on main level has backyard access, spa like en suite & huge walk-in closet. Also, a secondary bedroom on main level. Upstairs features a huge loft/media room, 3 more very large bedrooms, & additional full bathroom. Lovely landscaped backyard w/water feature & fully walled for privacy. New carpet 2019, & updated SS appliances.

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