Here are some helpful tips and suggestions for things to look for when choosing a neighborhood in the New London/Sunapee area, or any area for that matter, which will suit your needs: 1/Visit the area at different times of day. That will help determine things such as traffic patterns, activity levels, noise levels, and the influence of any of the other nearby by areas. 2/Practice your commute to work. It might turn out that one neighborhood’s location might actually add to the cost of the house, depending on the length of the commute, or possibly, increase the frustration level of the ride to work, simply because of the difficulty of the commute. 3/Talk with the locals. There is no better source of information than the people who already live there.  They will be able give you a true sense of the neighborhood. 4/Searching out the details. For information on crime rates, accident incidences, and the like, the local police department can be very helpful.  Also, the internet can be a good resource as well. 5/If you’re looking for a home in a larger city or metropolitan area, www.nabewise.com might be fun to explore.  You can set up a search which addresses some of the more “quality of life” characteristics which you might be looking for (such as trendy, dining, shopping, museums, etc.) Enjoy your search and don’t forget your greatest resource is your REALTOR®! Source:  Inman News columnist, Mary Umberger, a freelance writer from Chicago, 8/18/10