StreetAdvisor Blog

StreetAdvisor and Realestate.com.au rollout begins in South Australia

The partnership between StreetAdvisor and and Realestate.com.au to provide street and suburb reviews on Australia’s leading real estate site has begun its rollout in South Australia.

StreetAdvisor’s unique scorecards will be featured throughout realestate.com.au adding a touch of genuine local flavour to property listings.

So how will it look? Here's one example. This listing for Third Avenue Glenelg East features a scorecard that looks like this:

Users can click through to StreetAdvisor to write a review, read further reviews or explore streets with StreetView level mapping. With the initial launch being only for select properties in South Australia, a national rollout is planned for early 2009.

So if you have some local knowledge about real estate, you can now add it to StreetAdvisor knowing that your reviews will help thousands of Australian choose the best place to live.

Eating garbage, collapsing houses and other tough tales from the streets

Some of the street reviews posted on StreetAdvisor.com recently paint a grim picture of life. Houses are collapsing and sliding down hills and people seem to be eating garbage and rebelling against suburban conformity. Life is tough out there on the streets!

Photo by Aaron G Stock - Creative Commons license

At Lyell Avenue, Rochester, New York (StreetScore 53.58), wanda01 says:

"I wouldn't want to live on Lyell Ave. This area is a very bad section of the city. There is a lot of crime and drug activity in this area. There is even a strip club or two on this road. One thing that is good is the Garbage plates" that are made on Lyell. If you're not from Rochester your probably wonder what is a garbage plate. I know it sounds awful but really does taste good. You get a burger with macaroni salad, chili cheese fries and sauce piled on one plate. You eat this mixture but it actually really good. Rochester is famous for them. You can get them at almost every restaurant."

Photo by Knile - Creative Commons license

At Swainland Road, Oakland, California (StreetScore 28.52), Swainland says:

"I used to live on the 6200 block of Swainland. As a general matter the street is lacking in city services and the infrastructure is crumbling, all thanks to the city of Oakland's budget problems. More important, though, is the fact that homes have been built on this hillside without adequate planning. The streets are about a car and a half wide and there is virtually no way to get by when people park on the streets (which is often). The storm drains are always clogged and there are mass problems with drainage.

We had flooding on our lot every winter and it got worse with each year, as more homes were built upslope. The city engineer even admitted that the hillside was unstable and floods and landslides would be common on Swainland in the near future, but since it was all private property it was up to the landowners to fix these problems.

So after the last nearly catastrophic flood in 2003, we sold the house and moved. Be warned, Swainland is a street that has serious problems with floods and slope instability, in addition to the well known fire problems."

At NW 57th Court, Pompano Beach, Florida (StreetScore 17.64), sirrufuswilkins says:

"I really can’t blame the street for this. Maybe it’s the fault of the state. Maybe the conspiracy to make this place a hellhole goes all the way to the top. Whoever’s to blame, this entire city is a suburban hell of cardboard cutouts and Tetris piece housing. Don’t move here."

What local phenomenon would you warn prospective new neighbors about? Share your news on StreetAdvisor.com - write a review or post a forum topic today.

What's the best city in Texas? StreetAdvisor has the answer!

In our last post we explored the best and worst places in Florida. Now it's time to rank the cities in Texas.

1 El Paso, Texas (CityScore 79.00)

Sample street - Sparrow Drive, El Paso, Texas (StreetScore 88.20) - bobalina says:

"Sparrow street is a very quiet and small street located in the Lower Valley part of town. It is only one block long, but the small size makes the street feel like a very nice community. A couple of blocks up the road you will find Ascarate Elementary School, which is good news to any families interested in moving into the area. There is also a shopping plaza located nearby where people can purchase food, clothes, baked goods, as well as a couple of restaurants. It is the perfect street for anyone who wants to move into an understated neighborhood without too much flash."

2 Fort Worth, Texas (CityScore 70.70)

Sample street - W Berry Street, Fort Worth, Texas (StreetScore 88.20) - AngelKarma says:

"West Berry Street is a wonderful place to visit. My high school is located here among the numerous fast food restaurants. TCU is also just off the street with many college related stores nearby. The city has been fixing up the road near the campus for some time now. It used to be just concrete and cracks. Now it's paved with beautiful red bricks in nice patterns and grassy areas in the medians. A pleasant site!"

3 Austin, Texas (CityScore 69.13)

Sample street - S 1st Street, Austin, Texas (StreetScore 81.59) - dporgie says:

"South First Street in Austin has a quainter feel than the touristy South Congress and the busy South Lamar. Located between the two behemoths, South First seems to focus more on relaxation. There's a Torchy's Taco trailer sitting alongside a creek and lots of small businesses where you can get that nice personal touch that is missing from the big chains."

4 San Antonio, Texas (CityScore 68.03)

Sample street - Bushbuck Cross, San Antonio, Texas (StreetScore 89.43) - kaiserhat  says:

"Bushbuck Cross is a tiny little street in a residential area in the city of San Antonio. It is a great place to live and raise kids. The houses are fairly priced and, for the most part, relatively new. It is part of the Mesa Grande Subdivision, which has a community pool and clubhouse."

5 Dallas, Texas (CityScore 61.98)

Sample street - Marsh Lane, Dallas, Texas (StreetScore 88.20) - Solopoet says:

"Marsh Creek was the second place we moved to after relocating to Dallas. This street was really nice, with about four complexes surrounded by a network of creeks this place had a really serene beauty to it. Every body would meet at the park in the middle of the complex and just enjoy natures wonders. There was a basketball court, swimming pools, picnic tables and bbq grills, plus the folks were super friendly and don't forget that gorgeous creek, man I would sit there for hours on end just watching the little fish swim by, so if you're ever in the north Dallas area on Marsh Lane take a detour to the creek it will be well worth it."

6 Houston, Texas (CityScore 58.83)

Sample street - Sewanee Street, Houston, Texas (StreetScore 90.65) - CB4Real says:

"Usually, you have to find a neighborhood that is good for singles if you are single. If you have a family, that single friendly neighborhood is generally not as appealing. Very rarely do you have a neighborhood that is appealing to both singles and those with families. This is one of those rare streets. If you have kids, you are automatically one of the 'group'. If you are single, it may take you a bit more time for everyone to get to know you, just for the simple fact that you don't have a kid as an 'ice breaker'. Overall, this street is good for anyone who has a family, or is still enjoying the single life."

So that's a taste of the city rankings for Texas. How does your street rate in your city? How does your city rate in your state? Search for it in StreetAdvisor.com and find out, then share your own opinion.

StreetAdvisor knows the best and worst places in Florida

As more and more street and city reviews are submitted to StreetAdvisor.com, the scores we create for cities become more accurate. With a large population and lots of visitors choosing it as a vacation destination, Florida is the ideal state to compare city rankings. So which Florida city is rated the best?

1 Venice, Florida (CityScore 87.32)

Sample street - S Orange Avenue, Sarasota, Florida (StreetScore 77.81) - LiveWithPassion says:

"South Orange Avenue is comprised of office buildings, boutiques, businesses and lots of things to do. This is nestled in downtown Sarasota but you don't get the typical dirty city feel. It is a well manicured area! Burns court shopping is nearby and the Pineapple district is right next door."

2 Tallahassee, Florida (CityScore 73.03

Sample street - Rockbrook Court, Tallahassee, Florida (StreetScore 73.77) - Pitydafool says:

"I love living here! We are within walking distance of a very nice high school and convenient shopping and restaurants. The neighborhood is very clean and the neighbors are friendly."

3 Tampa, Florida (CityScore 71.29)

Sample street - W Wilder Avenue, Tampa, Florida (StreetScore 77.67) - astrochimp98 says:

"We have a beautiful view of the Hillsborough River. Rivercrest Park, which is a large scenic park with a great walking/running path, is only 2 blocks away. We have a very strong trio of neighborhood associations, who are committed to maintaining the historic bungalows of our area. This is so nice."

4 Fort Lauderdale, Florida (CityScore 67.48)

Sample street - NE 10th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (StreetScore 80.69) - misslu says:

"Las Olas is filled with a great of night life. No matter what your preference in music, you are bound to find a bar/club to fit your needs. As you walk down the street you will hear rock, rap, pop, reggae as well as techno. One can’t forget about all the lovely restaurants and café’s that line up the streets. It’s just really a good place to go hang out for the night with friends."

5 Jacksonville, Florida (CityScore 66.81)

Sample street - Trumbull Place, Jacksonville, Florida (StreetScore 87.81) - Cricketblue99 says:

"This street is located in Walden Woods subdivision. It is absolutely beautiful! The streets are well maintained and the lawns are neatly manicured. The family atmosphere is great! The neighbors are very friendly and look out for one another. There are plenty of kids that get along well together, also. The schools are excellent and very highly rated. There are grocery stores, gas stations, a few churches, and various restaurants within close driving distances. This is an outstanding neighborhood to raise your family in!"

6 Pensacola, Florida (CityScore 65.65)

Sample street - Davis Highway, Pensacola, Florida (StreetScore 35.28) - simonden says:

"Davis Highway literally sucks as far as traffic goes. It is busy at all times during the day and the worst part is that it goes the entire way through town. There is so much to do on Davis Highway, but with all the traffic it hardly seems worth it."

7 Miami, Florida (CityScore 63.84)

Sample street - NE 135th Street, Miami, Florida (StreetScore 17.64) - rockstar49 says:

"This was once a middle class Miami neighborhood and the home of North Miami High School. The neighborhood has changed since the 1960's. I went to high school there and now when I visit, it is virtually unrecognizable. The houses are run down and the school has bars and fences. It is sad for me to see how deteriorated this area, which I once loved, has become. They are re-building the school and hopefully the neighborhood will also begin to make improvements."

8 Orlando, Florida (CityScore 61.94)

Sample street - Landstar Boulevard, Orlando, Florida (StreetScore 60.59) - NikoB says:

"The communities along this road are cheap, but each has its own quirks. A lack of activities in the area has lead to youths turning to petty crime; burglaries and vandalism is relatively-commonplace, not to mention noise coming from neighbors and passing cars. There are several strip malls dotting the road, with affordable grocery shopping as well as barber shops and bars/restaurants. Public transportation is present, but few and far between. Bus-riders will definitely need a pair of walking shoes to be able to catch the bus, many run only once an hour. Cheap prices, but many caveats."

So that's a taste of the diversity of street stories in sunny Florida. How does your street rate in your city? How does your city rate in your state? Search for it in StreetAdvisor.com and find out, then share your own opinion.

Looking for fun? Where's the nightlife? Ask a local on StreetAdvisor

If you've visiting a city for work or maybe exploring a new place on vacation, it can be difficult to know where to go to have fun. Sometimes when you read the tourist brochures, they seem to provide everything but the specific thing you're looking for. The solution is to ask a local (or a previous visitor) for their expert knowledge and personalized recommendations.

At N Caldwell Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, StreetScore 88.20), tonyafraley says:

"Caldwell Street is home to some of Charlotte's downtown nightlife, and close to the Carolina Panthers stadium and Bobcats Arena. Obviously, this street gets busy around game time, and on Friday and Saturday nights. Caldwell also boasts some of the best downtown restaurants. Yummy food and tons to do!"

At Firehouse Alley, Sacramento, California (StreetScore 88.20), ridetilldawn says:

"If you visit Old Sacramento and neglect to walk down Firehouse Alley that parallels Front Street and 2nd Street but is faced by the backs of bars and clubs, you will have missed an important piece of the puzzle that explains Sacramento's allure to young people.

Firehouse Alley is predominately used by workers from the businesses operating along Front Street and 2nd Street in Old Sac. The street transforms at night, however, into a boisterous alley filled with the young and the young at heart as they mill around the entrance to their night clubs and the back patios of bars. Those who are going to cause trouble seem to leave this area alone, luckily, as most people who frequent the bars and clubs are having a good time and there is a significant security presence at either end of the alley during heavy use periods.

As with all Sacramento night-life, Firehouse Alley clears out quickly after the clubs close and there's not much in the way of housing in Old Sac so most people get into their cars and leave the area quiet for the workers to clean up and close down.

I'd highly recommend visiting Old Sac if you are in Sacramento and have a couple of free hours downtown. Check out Firehouse Alley if you are looking for a good bar-hopping experience one weekend night in Sacramento."

Photo by Viktor Enns - Creative Commons license

At S Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida (StreetScore 81.59), lestergal says:

"So, we all know that you cant go to Orlando without going to the City Walk. It just isn’t right. During the daytime, you can travel this strip and find some pretty awesome food. We went to Maccoroni Grill and I had the Vodka Rustica. It was amazing. Matt was our server and he gave us excellent service! It was really crowded, but we didn’t have any problems with losing group members. Lots of fun!!!"

Now it's your turn to share your local knowledge about where to go to party and have fun. Find your favorite places and review them or post a forum topic at StreetAdvisor.com today.

StreetAdvisor community members are happy in paradise and other places

Many top quality street and city reviews from around Australia have been added to StreetAdvisor recently by StreetAdvisor community members happy to promote the characteristics of their neighborhoods.

At Paradise Point, Queensland (CityScore 70.56), visitor zoewolf says:

"this is one of the sunny spots to be, not too busy and nice and friendly."

A view of the water from The Esplanade, Paradise Point, Queensland

At Carbine Street, Kerang, Victoria (StreetScore 65.26), resident shaggydee tells us that:

"Carbine is an insignificant little street in the small town of Kerang, a street full of friendly, down to earth working class country people, some would say that it is the wrong side of the tracks, however this is undeserved, and is in fact a very nice street to live in, it has a mixture of people from all cross sections of the community, from young families to retirees, although on the northern outskirts of the town, it is close to most services."

In Karalee, Queensland (CityScore 74.95), resident Tara says that:

"Karalee is a beautiful area to live in with: large lots, a small shopping village with a Woolworths, a local primary school, reasonable commute and a beautiful semi-rural feel. There are no noisy neighbors here other than the birds! A great place for families because of the quiet streets and large properties to play on. Most yards are around an acre, enough room to own a horse. There is an abundance of parks and wildlife, many of which you will find living in your property. Located next to two rivers with stunning views. "

At Shore Grove, Coburg North, Victoria (StreetScore 86.81), resident LaurieS says:

"The street is relatively quiet. Plenty of greenery around with tree lined footpaths and clean roadways. Quite a mix of different cultures and nationalities. Just a short walk to shops, schools, large parkland and to the famous cosmopolitan Sydney Road shopping strip. A short bus ride to Northlands Shopping Complex and very close to rail and tram public transport."

At Swimming Pool Road, Tingha, New South Wales (StreetScore 53.92), TinghaDon says:

"come on down to Tingha and live the good life we are already living - you're always welcome here."

Swimming Pool Road, Tingha, New South Wales

It's always great to hear happy stories from satisfied neighbors at StreetAdvisor. What do you have to say about your street and city? Share your news at StreetAdvisor.com.

Surviving the housing crisis

In many places in the western world, the housing and mortgage crisis is causing suffering and lower standards of living for many people. Foreclosures mean people are losing the homes they planned as long term investments for their futures. In some cases, greed encouraged some people to over-invest and build McMansions that they now cannot pay for.

In the US, some people have found another way to beat the housing crisis. They're not building McMansions - in fact they're building the exact opposite. The tiny house movement is growing, with companies like Tumbleweed creating tiny mobile or permanent houses that provide compact living on compact budgets with an added awareness of their environmental impact.

You can read more at the Tiny House blog and in this story at the New York Times. For the advocates of tiny homes, less is definitely more. The best way to explain the concept is to watch the video below.

Is the housing crisis forcing you to rethink where you live? If you were going to get a tiny house, where would you put it? Find your favorite place on the map at StreetAdvisor.com today.

Documenting community progress: A StreetAdvisor case study

Community member advisor2008 is a prolific contributor to StreetAdvisor. One of the projects he has been using StreetAdvisor for is documenting the building of a new church in his community. It's been great to watch the building progress and now it's nearly finished. Below are a series of his photos of the church at Elzey Brown Loop Road, Sharptown, Maryland, United States (StreetScore 82.81).

26 February 2008

5 March 2008

26 April 2008

24 August 2008

Thanks advisor2008 for your contributions! As you can see from this example, StreetAdvisor is a great tool for sharing local news with your neighbors and community. What local news do you have to share? Tell us at StreetAdvisor.com today.

A slice of life on StreetAdvisor

These street reviews have nothing in common except they all record the views of StreetAdvisor community members going about their everyday business. That's the beauty of being able to describe what life is like on your street!

At 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (StreetScore 75.15), visitor mangoflute says:

"Although I find the name "Fifth Avenue" glamorous, there is really nothing glamorous about Fifth Avenue in Oakland. It is home to many University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Buildings (in addition to many buildings belonging to the University of Pittsburgh), as well as Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Across the street from the hospitals, there are many places to get fast food, such as Wendy's and an array of independent vendors selling things that mainly resemble pizza as far as level of convenience.

Further down, there is the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, in which classical music concerts are often heard. There are also some buildings here which belong to Carnegie Mellon University, including a very impressive-looking one with exceptionally wide pillars out in front. The street also is home to the headquarters of WQED, Pittsburgh's Classical Music Station. And if that is not enough, Fifth is also the street one needs to take in order to get to the lovely Shadyside area of Pittsburgh."

At Convent Avenue, New York, New York, United States (StreetScore 63.31), resident misu says:

"First, no one has ever heard of it & cabbies never know how to get there!! But it is a pretty nice street. It runs from about 153rd street and St. Nicholas Ave and once you get to 128th street, it changes names to Morningside. From about 145th Street to 140th, it is in an historic district and the brownstones are amazing. There are still a few of them for sale, but they are going quickly. At 141st, City College begins and from 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday - even during the summer- no cars or taxis are allowed to travel from 141st to 135th streets. The college has guards placed at both sides and barricades, so don't bother to try to drive down.

There's construction going on as well and the M18 is not running on Convent until January 2009. Just past the school (135th to 130th) there are many 6 story apartment buildings and most of the residents are either families or City College students (myself included) Past 130th, the neighborhood changes and there are less families & students. I would avoid walking around that side late at night. Overall, there is not much traffic and it is pretty safe. The one major drawback is that there is no restaurants at all on this street. Though a new laundromat is going in at 131st (still under construction)."

At Grapevine Drive, Allen, Texas, United States (StreetScore 81.37), resident virenpshah says:

"Very very good. Clean, neat, quiet, crime free and a perfect place for families living. Very convenient grocery and tons of parks around."

At Dart Hill Road, South Windsor, Connecticut, United States (StreetScore 45.95), resident Sourdust says:

"If not for the drivers who treat this road as if it were their own personal Stafford Motor Speedway, this little street would be a sliver of paradise. Because we have such verdant greenery, there are all manner of wildlife - gophers, deer, raccoons and the like sleep, feed, and lounge around our property. because we have to occasionally deal with them, we rate that there are some pests here. While there are no hospitals or retail outlets ON this street, neither are more than 20 minutes away."

What do you have to say about your street or neighborhood? You can share and chat about your favorite places at StreetAdvisor.com.

Enjoying a seachange in Australia

The term seachange refers to people who choose to live a less stressful life by finding somewhere near the coast to live. The lure of the beach, whether city or regional, is strong. Here are two recent reviews from two very different Australian beach regions.

At Poplar Street, West Beach, South Australia, Australia (StreetScore 76.70), resident Anders says:

"Poplar Street is positioned to provide great access to arterial roads to the City, Airport and beyond, yet is far enough away for a quiet enjoyment without traffic noise. Easy walking access to local parks (there is even a fully maintained childrens playground in the street), the local primary school and the beach adds to the overall appeal.

My immediate neighbours are elderly, but there are younger families also living in the street. Property is mainly single story dwellings around 30-40 years of age and are all well maintained with several having recently been renovated."

At Astro Avenue, Golden Beach, Victoria, Australia (StreetScore 61.68), resident lyn3840 (who also posted both of these beautiful beach photos) says:

"Terrific place for a holiday house or to retire to. Beautiful clean deserted beaches, 90 MILES of it!! Very quiet and peaceful, Not good mobile reception but we love that part of it. To getaway from work and annoying calls is so relaxing. No eating out unless you want takeaway and no pub, but they do have a bottleshop for the odd tipple or 3. People are very friendly and helpful. Animal friendly as well."

Where do you dream of escaping to? You can find your dream home location in StreetAdvisor.com, and probably see it as well thanks to StreetView. Log in now to see what you can find.