Begin your research Online: Start an Internet search by entering keywords into Google such as the name of the city, coupled with information or housing.   

Here are a few places to look:

• City Tourism websites
• Local Chamber of Commerce
• Major city newspaper websites to follow metro news and housing classifieds
• Nearby university and college websites
• Check local police department's website for crime stats

Select Neighborhoods: If you have narrowed down your choices to specific neighborhoods, search on "name of neighborhood" plus "neighborhood association."

Talk to Real Estate Agents: While the Federal Fair Housing Law may prevent real estate agents from giving you information about protected classes, which includes where churches are located, neighborhood school rankings, ethnic make-up of neighborhoods, among other factors, agents can be a wealth of information.

An agent who is familiar with your particular neighborhood can tell you the differences between homes as sometimes a home across the street from another can vary greatly in price.

• Interview some agents and find an agent you feel comfortable working with
• If the agent is the Listing Agent (seller’s agent) of a property you are interested in, it is ok to also have him/her represent you. If the agent represents both, you and the seller, he/she will be a dual agent in the transaction and is acceptable in California provided the agent discloses this to both you and the seller by means of executing a “Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship”.
• Find out the agent protocol for working with local agents.
• Ask if it’s ok to attend an open house without your agent.
• How often will your agent communicate with you?
• Determine who pays the real estate agent (in some cases it could be you)
• Talk to a title officer at a local title company about title policies and how closings are handled.

Ask the agent for details on the following:

• Recent comparable sales. This is your best benchmark to avoid paying over market for the home.
• Average cost per-square-foot. Break this down by price ranges and square-foot values because the larger the home, the lower the square-foot cost.
• Average list-to-sales-price ratios.
• Days on market (DOM). This is important because it could change your offer strategy, but not always.
• Are you moving into a seller's – a buyer's – or neutral marketplace?

Gather Data on Inspections and Disclosures: Because every state is different, find out how what types of disclosures you can expect to receive, and which types of inspections are normally performed. Here are some questions to ask:

• Is it customary for buyers to receive reports on environmental hazards and, if so, who pays for them?
• Are pest inspections generally part of the purchase contract?
• Who pays for home inspections and what types of repairs do sellers cover? Your agent should be able to refer several inspectors to you.
• Do city laws govern transfer of ownership and inspections?
• Do buyers in certain neighborhoods ask for chimney, plumbing or sewer / septic inspections?
• Are surveys typically ordered?
• How are taxes assessed? You want to make sure no delinquent taxes remain unpaid and compute accurate taxes for which you will be liable.