As a Phoenix Realtor, there are some client questions I cannot answer. A home buyer who asks what crime is like in the neighborhood might be surprised when I direct them to the Internet for answers. There is some information (including demographic statistics) that a real estate agent cannot speak about due to federal fair housing laws and I prefer to leave some elements, such as the quality of the school district or local crime statistics, answered by other sources.

Some of this information will make or break a decision to buy. The quality of school systems has long been of importance to home-buying families and luckily, there are a variety of sources Phoenix home buyers can use to get the information on their own. Below you will find useful links to check any of the important factors that may determine where you choose to buy your next home.

Phoenix Area Crime Reports by Zip Code

National Sex Offender Registry

Study Phoenix Schools Click on “School, College and Library Search” at the top to see data such as a school’s student-to-teacher ratio and enrollment by race/ethnicity.

Phoenix School Ratings

Environment by Zip Code and City Pollution Scorecard

US Census Bureau

Getting the most of the Census guide

For most Americans looking to buy retirement property, the real estate crash has created home buying opportunities in Phoenix, AZ. In fact, home prices in 20 major US cities have dropped nearly 30% from the highs in 2006. Making this the perfect storm for home buyers, today’s 30-year mortgage fixed interest rate stands at about 4.5%, essentially at the lowest level available in the past 40 years.

Lower home prices and cheap mortgage rates have made home buying much more affordable than just 3 years ago. Retirees ready to embark on the second half of their lives are in a particularly favorable position and U.S. News compiled a list of 10 places where retirement home buyers can purchase property for under $600 per month (principal and interest only, not including property taxes and insurance), assuming a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 4.35%. So what city emerged at the top of the list? Phoenix, AZ.

With more than 200 golf courses, miles of outdoor trails, museums and art galleries, Phoenix has long been an attractive retirement destination. Home prices in Phoenix doubled have dropped more than 50% as the real estate bubble burst. The crash has helped make the city’s real estate market more affordable for retirement home buyers. The median home price in Phoenix stood at $145,000 in August 2010. Buyers who put a 20% down payment on a median-priced Phoenix home will have monthly payments of only $580 for mortgage principal and interest.