StreetAdvisor Blog

Weird wacky and wonderful houses

Is there a house on your street or nearby in your neighborhood that is 'different' to all the others? Is there a weird or wonderful house you walk or drive past regularly that you find fascinating?

Photo by Pocheco - Creative Commons license

If so, pull out your cell phone or digital camera and take a picture and share it with the StreetAdvisor community. You may find that your neighbors share your curiousity about this house. The owner may even want to tell you its history.

Photo by nicolasnova - Creative Commons license

Here at StreetAdvisor.com we're interested in all kinds of houses and homes. Whether you live in a cave or a dome, we want to hear about it!

Real estate nostalgia - remembering former homes

Many people have fond memories of former homes, particularly those that they lived in as children. Visiting them years later can create strong feelings and memories, as well as an awareness that the property and its former residents have changed over time.

At StreetAdvisor we have received many stories from former residents of streets containing their memories and recollections of the homes they used to know.

At N Central Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United States (StreetScore 34.58), former resident vpage says:

"I lived there many years ago and have visited recently. Many homes are being taken care of beautifully, but some are in terrible disrepair. Additionally the neighborhood in general has a dreadful crime rate and is not really all that safe for anyone day or night. Great transportation with city buses, but even on the main streets, wouldn't shop there. Once a very nice middle class neighborhood, will hopefully turn itself around, but it will take a lot of time still."

At Utopia Parkway, Fresh Meadows, New York, United States (StreetScore 65.75), former resident startrekruth says:

"My parents bought a house on this street when I was five years old. This is a residential street with one and two family houses, meant for families with children. There are nice backyards and front yards. The front yards generally have a variety of flowers and grass. Most people have patios in part of the backyard, and nice trees that have now had 50 years to grow and mature. Schools are short distances away.

Since I grew up, the neighborhood has become more ethnically Asian and more diverse. There are an interesting variety of restaurants, an ice cream parlor, drugstores, and large grocery. The food is affordable and good for a casual meal, but I wouldn't classify it as gourmet. This is definitely a middle class neighborhood, and for many, the place to buy a first home, because the prices are relatively inexpensive.

There is a fair amount of traffic, because Utopia Parkway is one of the exits on the Long Island Expressway, but the street is not as noisy as most, because the stores are on streets nearby. The area is fairly safe, and people mingle because the block is conducive for kids to ride bikes and gather. I have lots of nice memories of the street, and with the name Utopia, you feel like your karma includes good fortune."

At Keeling Place, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States (StreetScore 71.95), former resident amangielangomat says:

"I lived on this street for about 10 years. The community within this short block is home. With some of the neigbors living there for more than 30 years, you will always feel that southern hospitality."

At Ewart Street, Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory, Australia (StreetScore 67.21), former resident zoewolf says:

"This was a lovely quiet little street when i was growing up, there have not been too many changes in the years it would seem as well."

What memories do you have of your former homes? Have you visited them recently? Share your home memories at StreetAdvisor.com.

StreetAdvisor growing at an enormous rate

Here at StreetAdvisor HQ, we understand the importance of growth. Late last year I posted a map image of Victoria showing all the street coverage posted by the StreetAdvisor community. Recently I decided to take the same map image and overlay it with today's data to see just how much the site has grown and expanded.  I think the results speak for themselves:

As you can see the community is growing rapidly, and the data we are collecting is getting bigger and better each day. The long term potential of this data is extremely exciting, and we are not stopping with just Victoria. Over the next three months, our goal is to get every single street reviewed and rated in major cities such as San Francisco, New York and Sydney.

Next time you're house hunting, ask yourself if you would find it invaluable to have EVERY street reviewed and rated in your city in the palm of your hands? We think so too... and that's our goal.

Adam Spencer
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
StreetAdvisor.com

I love the smell of real estate in the morning

Sometimes, no matter what you do or how good your intentions are, decisions you make regarding real estate just don't work out. There are some fascinating stories being told in StreetAdvisor by people who have good reason not to be satisfied with their street.

At N Water Street, Newburgh, Orange, New York, United States (StreetScore 17.64), former resident KKK says:

"Very bad experience. Neighbors complained that I was making noise when I was not even home. Condo board just fined me and placed a lien on my unit, even though the same neighbors made the same complaints about the last 2 persons who live there. Very bad situation. I had to move out and sell my unit."

Photo of US police helicopter chase by minds-eye - Creative Commons License

At 48th Street, San Diego, California, United States (StreetScore 58.85), resident rb1980 says:

"Just close enough to share the high price of Talmadge's upscale homes and just far enough away from the ghetto on the other side of El Cajon to make it not worth the price. This particular block is exactly on the circumference of the circle that the police helicopters do when hunting bad guys, which is every single Friday and Saturday night. Overall, not bad, but for the money there are better neighborhoods."

Photo of Richmond graffiti by Los Cardinalos - Creative Commons License

At  Leslie Street, Richmond, Victoria, Australia (StreetScore 42.86), resident Sparks says:

"We're a professional couple in our late twenties and have lived here for almost a year. The noise in this neighbourhood (at least on our end, close to Victoria St.) is ridiculous, especially in summer. People have parties on their front porches and stay up making noise and breaking bottles until the wee hours. There are bogans galore. I'm greeted to the sound of a mum screaming at her kids every morning at about the same time in front of her house.

We're moving soon. I can say that the street is good for being near a tram line and in walking distance to Vic Gardens. But definitely not worth the noise. Some of the people in our building are lovely (and elderly). But the unsavoury element nearby and particularly some of the visitors to Victoria St. (we often see junkies on the tram getting on and off a few blocks up the road) do not a happy home make.

Though on a good note, there are some great cheap Asian restaurants close by (Van Mai is a great inexpensive Vietnamese restaurant and The Kilim has good Turkish food) and everyone loves the Terminus bar. So if you're a night owl yourself and don't mind a bit of grunge, you'll probably love it here."

Have you bought or rented a place then realized that you can't stand living there? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell us about the streets you've lived on that you couldn't wait to leave. Your opinion may help someone else make a better decision about where to live next.

StreetAdvisor on Union St, San Francisco

StreetAdvisor.com has uploaded another video featuring interviews recorded live on the streets of San Francisco.

This time we have visited Union St in the Marina district. Click here to watch the video in StreetAdvisor or click on the embedded video below to watch it in YouTube.

If writing reviews is not your style, grab your camcorder and make a video! Interview your friends and neighbors about their streets and post the videos on StreetAdvisor.com.

Do you have a Neighborhood Watch?

Almost a year ago in this blog, StreetAdvisor co-CEO and co-founder Jason Spencer wrote a post called Neighborhood Watch - Is there anybody out there? Since then, StreetAdvisor has received many street reviews where community members have told us all about the Neighborhood Watch services in their local area.

At Dunkeld Road, Bournemouth, United Kingdom (StreetScore 76.63), resident Andy99 says:

"I have lived in this street for 17 years and in all that time it has been a pleasure to live in such a quiet street. This is a good street to live in for those that enjoy their privacy. The Street also has a neighborhood watch scheme."

Photo by le Corrigan - Creative Commons License

At  Wiena Crescent, Miandetta, Tasmania, Australia (StreetScore 81.92), resident ozecard says:

"This crescent has everything a family needs. Park for the kids, friendly general store, hairdresser, bakery, specialty stores. Schools and public transport close by but a very peaceful area which retains that community feel. An active Neighborhood Watch (not that it's often needed). The perfect place to live, close to the city centre, but without the traffic."

At Karla Place, City Beach, Western Australia, Australia (StreetScore 89.85), resident sandnsurf says:

"Ultra quiet, on top of a hill overlooking the Indian Ocean to the East and the North. Overlooks the valley into Scarborough and Wembley Downs. Great neighborhood watch with vigilant neighbors. Street party once a year. Accomodating to new arrivals. Very peaceful street with no major issues. Currently has underground power and other services, with excellent mobile and internet 2+ connections for broadband. Great access to parks, shops and schools."

At Sarah Crescent, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia (StreetScore 77.15), resident cinnamon says:

"Sarah Crescent is a quiet residential street with acre blocks. The houses are of a consistent standard and when there is a sale in the street, the value more than keeps up with inflation. It is a safe area with no crime, and has a neighborhood watch system providing a measure of security for children. Traffic is consistently quiet, with the occasional house looker on the weekends. There are not many sales in the street, so I guess most people once they buy into the area like to stay put."

Photo by Wade Rockett - Creative Commons License

At NE Cleveland Avenue, Portland, Oregon, United States (StreetScore 70.35), resident burgesg says:

"My wife and I recently moved from San Francisco to Portland. It took us some time to adjust to the slow pace of Portland, but our neighborhood is great. Utility lines are run through the alley so the streets are lined with huge mature trees. Just a few blocks away several new restaurants have been opened greatly improving the restaurante scene near this historic Piedmont street. Additionally, the neighbors are fantastic and take great pride in looking after each other's homes. A new neighborhood watch group has recently began patrolling the neighborhood and property values have skyrocketed. I would strongly recommend this diverse neighborhood to families and couples. The schools are not the strongest, but that has been changing and one of the cities premier parks is just a few blocks off of Cleveland Avenue--a beauty!"

At Pacifica Drive, San Diego, California, United States (StreetScore 66.45), resident MCM says:

"Strong police presence on Grand and Garnett is probably a result of the bustling college partying in downtown PB, which is the area's greatest liability; unless of course you happen to be between 19-25 y/o. School districts poor compared to adjoining La Jolla. Coastal clouds burn off later in the day and temps are much cooler than just 3 miles inland. Think SF, Monterey, Santa Cruz. Active neighborhood watch and intellectual scene. Prices range from 400-550 dollars a square foot for residential real estate."

As you can see, an active Neighborhood Watch and proactive neighbors create strong places to call home that also attract good prices and high scores in StreetAdvisor.

What do you think of these stories? Do you participate in your Neighborhood Watch? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell us about what the local Neighborhood Watch is doing in your street.

Top 9 big cities in the USA

After analysing the relative StateScores for the Top 10 and 10 worst US states, it's time to look at the ratings for cities. Nine US cities are listed as having a population of over one million people as estimated by the US Census Bureau, and we have compared the CityScores to make a list of the best big cities in the US as rated by StreetAdvisor.com community members.

1. Philadelphia (pop 1,448,394), Pennsylvania (CityScore 79.05)
2. San Diego (pop 1,256,951), California (CityScore 75.09)
3. Dallas (pop 1,232,940), Texas (CityScore 74.41)
4. San Antonio (pop 1,296,682), Texas (CityScore 73.10)
5. Houston (pop 2,144,491), Texas (CityScore 70.72)
6. Chicago (pop 2,833,321), Illinois (CityScore 67.51)
7. Phoenix (1,512,986), Arizona (CityScore 66.63)
8. New York City (pop 8,250,567), New York (CityScore 65.11)
9. Los Angeles (pop 3,849,378), California (CityScore 62.59)

The Art Museum area of Philadelphia by GooseGoddessS - Creative Commons License

Philadelphia wins by a large margin. The largest two cities, New York City and Los Angeles, score the worst, perhaps reflecting their high living costs. The smaller 'large' cities with just over one million people rate best. What is it about cities of this size that people like?

What do you think of these ratings? Do you, or have you, lived in these cities? Log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell us what makes your city special.

Has suburbia become slumburbia?

We all have an idea in mind of where we would like to live, even if do not live there at present, whether for family, employment or financial reasons. One common divide between people is the different worlds of the inner city versus the outer suburbs of any large city.

Various names have been invented for the outer suburbs, including commuter towns, exurbia (as explained in this 2005 BusinessWeek article) and now slumburbia. Newly built suburban fringes filled with row after row of McMansions are experiencing social and economic decline due to long commute times, high fuel prices, increasing mortgage costs and high foreclosure rates.

Photo by lynn smith - Creative Commons License

The term was perhaps first used by Christopher B. Leinberger in this article in The Atlantic, where he argues that

"the story of vacant suburban homes and declining suburban neighborhoods did not begin with the crisis, and will not end with it. A structural change is under way in the housing market—a major shift in the way many Americans want to live and work. It has shaped the current downturn, steering some of the worst problems away from the cities and toward the suburban fringes. And its effects will be felt more strongly, and more broadly, as the years pass. Its ultimate impact on the suburbs, and the cities, will be profound."

The concept is discussed further in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Boston Review.

Many people are choosing to abandon outer suburbia for revitalized inner city areas, which are booming in many large cities. This change is occurring due to the needs of young people, who don't want to spend hours driving to and from work each day, and empty nesting baby-boomers keen to maximize their lifestyles before they head into retirement, according to this 2007 KPMG report.

Photo by stephcarter - Creatice Commons License

The word 'slum' has not been used a great deal in StreetAdvisor so far, but here is one example. At Sheridan Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey, United States (StreetScore 32.84), resident gwhite says "This street along with all of Paterson, NJ is a slum; I recommend it for absolutely NOBODY!"

Unfortunately, no one has reviewed the aptly named Bogan Place, Seven Hills, New South Wales, Australia, which in the far outer west of Sydney (for US readers a bogan is the Australian equivalent of white trash).

How do you feel about this story? Do you enjoy life in the outer suburbs, or have you made the move into the inner city? Tell us about the differences between them on StreetAdvisor.com.

How furry are your neighbors?

StreetAdvisor is receiving many street reviews that mention wildlife and the various joys and problems that come from sharing the environment with different animals.

At  156th Avenue SE, Kent, Washington, United States (StreetScore 76.28), resident MartiRealtor says:

"We love our street, our homes on acreage and the neighbors! Whether its a family with kids & large dogs, or grandparents with room for the grandkids to play, or having a "hobby farm" or being able to tend a vegetable garden, we've got it all! We've got gated "estate homes" and though there has been a "5 acre minimum" for years, some older homes may have lot sizes as small as a 1/2 acre. One can find alpacas, chickens, beef cows, horses, tractors & the occassional dirt bike "living" on our street."

At Batu Road, Herbert, Northern Territory, Australia (StreetScore 75.56), resident madpom says:

"A quiet cul de sac, near to a golf course with restaurant. Shopping centre, schools, a couple of pubs, doctors and bus terminus all within 5 kms. [Nearby are ] Wallabies, dingos, bush chooks, galahs, parrots, kookaburras, black and white cockatoos, curlews by the dozen, frill neck lizards and snakes (but never seen one)."

At Sheffield Drive, Clearwater, Pinellas, Florida, United States (StreetScore 85.69), former resident ahoo says:

"I miss living here. With Allen's Creek in our backyard we saw manatees, dolphins, eagles, pelicans, egrets and other sea birds right from our porch. The large yards are wonderful but the neighbors are even better. There is always someone walking, running, pushing stroller, riding a bike. Always a hello, more if you start a conversion but never nosey in your business."

At River Street, Grove City, Ohio, United States (StreetScore 65.82), resident wormi says:

"River Street is a very quiet residential street surrounded by state park land. Wildlife is in abundance. The neighborhood is located far enough away from the city to feel country, but close enough to make it easily livable."

Possum in the Roof by Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha - Creative Commons License

Most of these stories are positive, but while native wildlife can be nice to look at, some animals can be harder to live with. There's also a big difference between a few wild creatures and agricultural animals.

At E Jefferson Drive, Mentor, Lake, Ohio, United States (StreetScore 29.98), resident gwgandolf says:

"Quiet street in an established neighborhood. Power outages at least once a month. Flooding a constant threat due of lack of adequate storm sewer connections. Squirrels, skunks, racoons and deer a constant nuisance."

At O'Neals Road, Seaford, Delaware, United States (StreetScore 72.00), visitor PC25754 says:

"A nice residential /agricultural area located on ONEALS RD in Delaware. There are a number of fine homes on this road among various chicken growers on the street. However, I suppose that the winds carrying the stench of ammonia can be a bit much if one is not accustom to this type of country living understanding in some parts of Delmarva which is noted as a large chicken growers’ region. These fine-looking homes in this vicinity perhaps could be affected by nasty side-effects along with runoff and pollution. The impact of all the chicken waste can be powerful, as it washes off the fields and seeps into groundwater."

At 10th Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States (StreetScore 26.43), dmschaeffer says:

"It's a trailer park. there is a problem with racoons and possums. They sometimes get under the trailers."

My favorite animal story is from SR-520, Cocoa, Florida, United States  (Overall StreetScore 19.59), where resident Kathypat says:

"You have to keep an eye on your kids when they play outside, because there are some gators in the lake".

Log into StreetAdvisor.com and tell your neighbors and the rest of the world about the animals around your place.

How good is your Homeowners' Association?

Property maintenance and security are important issues for home owners and residents. In many areas Homeowners' Associations have an important role to play in managing properties in neighborhoods and communities.

People have very different attitudes about their Homeowners' Associations based on comments made by StreetAdvisor community members. Some people appreciate them while some people hate their Homeowners' Association, and some people don't find out things they need to know until it's too late.

At  Ash Creek, Mesquite, Dallas, Texas, United States (StreetScore 40.37), resident kellydav says

"I have lived here for 40 years and have seen the area go down hill. It's been declining slowly but the homeowners association wants to pretend that they are doing a good job. That's another story. I live in one of the last actual homes in the short area. Most have been bought out over the years and have been made into Duplex's. You never know what, who, where, how your neighbors are and that can be frightening."

Most residents have more positive stories to tell. At Lakeside Drive, McKinney, Collin, Texas, United States (StreetScore 78.44), resident McKinneyMomma says:

"this street is a great place to live, very peaceful, and maintained with an iron fist (!) by the homeowners association. This is not a place that you will see weed-y yards or homes in need of painting/upkeep - there are always a lot of activity by yard services or contractors adding to or updating homes on this street - in fact, 2 custom home builders live on this street!"

At Cornerstone Lane, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States (StreetScore 72.79), resident SCGiants says:

"We have a voluntary HOA which is good. Nobody likes old pesky neighbors with nothing better to do than to get into your business. It's a clean area other than the few pieces of litter that the "cut throughs" mindlessly toss but all of us are pretty good about keeping up with it. It's not Beverly Hills but it was never meant to be either. Its a good middle of the road middle class neighborhood."

At Kevin Kelly Place, Austin, Texas, United States (StreetScore 72.16), resident Helena says:

"Gardens of Milwood is a perfect neighborhood for singles, couples, retirees or those with very young children. Homes are approx. 800-1200 sq ft with very small yards. If you want to be in the Austin city limits, this is one of the most affordable, but nice and "safe" places to buy. (Some crime has occurred, but we have been here for 3 years with no issues or fears whatsoever.) HOA is active so most homes and streets are well cared for."

At  Salamonie Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (StreetScore 77.32), resident webonics says:

"This neighborhood is about five years old in the oldest section but many homes are as new as two years. The Homeowners Association is active and there is a community spirit with some block parties and kids events a couple of times per year. Property taxes are VERY HIGH particularly in Franklin Township but hopefully pending legislation will alleviate the disparity. Additionally, the township has begun to allow more commercial development to subsidize residential property taxes."

How good is your HOA?

Log into StreetAdvisor.com, where you can tell all your neighbors about your local Homeowners' Association.