People looking for a home in Fayetteville North Carolina ask me this question all the time. Is it a good neighborhood? The only thing is I can't say. It's frustrating on the one hand because it's one of the main things a real estate client would expect from their agent.

But on the other hand agents could practically destroy some areas while boosting others based on what really amounts to be just an opinion. If all that isn't enough the state of North Carolina made it illegal. That's right its illegal for a real estate agent to recommend or advise against a neighborhood.

So how can you get the answer? Well you can call the police dept. if the property is in the city or sherriff dept. for properties outside the city limits. The police dept even has a website set up so you can inquire online. Gather school data from greatschools.net which may help you to gain insight into a neighborhood makeup.

But the most common sense approach I've ever heard was to call the local pizza delivery like Dominoes or Papa Johns. I learned this from a grisled old real estate investor. The pizza delivery people know exactly what areas to steer clear of.