Let me tell you about the house I almost bought.
It was 2024, and I was finally in a position to buy my first home. Solid income, good credit, modest down payment saved up. After months of searching, I found what seemed like the perfect property: a well-maintained bungalow in an established neighborhood, priced just under my budget, with a big backyard and a two-car garage.
The inspection came back clean. The seller accepted my offer within hours. My lender approved the mortgage. Everything was falling into place.
The closing was scheduled for three weeks out. I was already picking out paint colors.
Then, on a whim, I decided to research the neighbors. Just out of curiosity. Just to know who I'd be living next to.
What I found made me walk away from the deal - and quite possibly saved me from years of misery.
The Perfect House on Paper
On paper, the house checked every box. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, updated kitchen, finished basement. The lot was generous - nearly half an acre - with mature trees and a privacy fence enclosing the backyard.
The location was ideal: quiet residential street, good schools, ten minutes from my office. Neighbors' yards were well-maintained. No visible red flags.
My agent loved it. My inspector gave it a thumbs up. My parents, who'd accompanied me on the final walkthrough, were already envisioning Thanksgiving dinners in the dining room.
I'd fallen in love with the house. Which made what happened next even harder.
The Neighbor Research That Changed Everything
I don't even remember why I decided to look up the neighbors. Maybe it was the "measure twice, cut once" mentality I'd learned from my dad. Maybe it was new-buyer anxiety. Maybe it was just procrastination - I was supposed to be reviewing closing documents, but research felt more interesting.
Whatever the reason, I opened a property search tool and entered the addresses of the houses on either side of "my" new home. The same techniques from reverse address lookup that help find people can also reveal who you'll be living next to.
The house to the right was owned by a retired couple who'd lived there for twenty years. Nothing concerning - just ordinary people in an ordinary house.
The house to the left was a different story.
The owner - I'll call him Greg - had purchased the property two years earlier. That itself wasn't unusual. But as I dug deeper, a pattern emerged.
Greg's property had generated multiple code enforcement complaints in those two years. Public records showed disputes with neighbors, noise complaints filed with the police, and a pending lawsuit from the HOA for unauthorized construction.
I searched Greg's name separately and found even more: a history of disputes at previous addresses, a social media presence full of combative posts about "nosy neighbors" and "harassment," and court records showing he'd been involved in litigation with neighbors at his last three residences.
This wasn't just a bad neighbor. This was a professional bad neighbor - someone who left a trail of conflict everywhere he went.
Verifying What I Found
I wanted to believe I was wrong. Maybe the records were outdated. Maybe Greg had reformed. Maybe the disputes had been the other parties' fault.
So I did more digging. According to Realtor.com, researching neighbors should be a standard part of due diligence - yet most buyers skip this crucial step.
Talked to the seller's agent
I asked pointed questions about the neighbor situation. The agent got uncomfortable and deflected. "Every neighborhood has its characters," she said. That response told me everything I needed to know.
Visited at different times
I drove by the property on a Saturday afternoon. The neighbor's yard was cluttered with half-finished projects. Music blasted from an open garage. Three cars were parked on the lawn - in clear violation of HOA rules.
Talked to other neighbors
I found a neighbor on the other side of the block who was walking her dog. When I mentioned I was considering the house, her expression changed. "You should talk to the people across the street first," she said. "Before you make any decisions."
Checked the HOA records
The pending lawsuit against Greg was real. The HOA had been trying to force him to remove an unpermitted shed for over a year. He was countersuing for harassment.
The Hardest Decision I Ever Made
I walked away from the house.
It was agonizing. I'd already emotionally moved in. I'd told my friends and family. I'd put down earnest money. The seller was expecting to close.
But I knew what would happen if I bought that house. Every weekend, I'd be dealing with noise and clutter and disputes. Every improvement I made to my property would be overshadowed by Greg's chaos. My peaceful home would become a battleground.
Some problems you can fix. A bad neighbor is not one of them. You can't renovate your way out of living next to someone who thrives on conflict. David Park's article on property search techniques covers this and other crucial research steps.
I forfeited my earnest money - about $3,000 - and told my agent to find me something else. She wasn't happy. Neither was I. But three years later, living in a different house in a different neighborhood where my neighbors are quiet, pleasant people who wave when I walk by, I know I made the right call.
What I Learned About Neighbor Research
This experience taught me that buying a house isn't just about the house - it's about the community you're joining. Here's what I wish I'd known before:
Neighbors matter more than you think
You can change paint colors, update appliances, and add square footage. You cannot change who lives next door. A bad neighbor can make even the best house miserable.
The listing won't warn you
Sellers and agents aren't required to disclose neighbor disputes (in most states). It's up to you to investigate. Don't expect anyone to volunteer this information.
Research is easy and cheap
Property searches, public records, and a few drive-bys can reveal problems that would take years to discover the hard way. The $3,000 I lost in earnest money was nothing compared to what I'd have lost living next to Greg. Understanding what property lookup can reveal is essential for any buyer.
Trust your findings
When I first discovered the red flags, part of me wanted to explain them away. "Maybe it's not that bad." "Maybe I'm overreacting." I wasn't. The evidence was clear - I just didn't want to see it.
How to Research Neighbors Before Buying
If you're considering a home purchase, here's the research I recommend:
Search the neighboring properties
Use property search tools to find out who owns the adjacent houses. How long have they lived there? Are they owners or renters? Long-term, stable neighbors are usually a good sign. A property owner search can provide this information quickly.
Check for complaints and disputes
Look up code enforcement records for the neighborhood. Search court records for lawsuits involving the address. Check if there are noise complaints or police reports.
Visit at different times
Drive by on weekday evenings, weekend afternoons, and late at night. You'll see how the neighborhood actually lives, not just how it looks during showings.
Talk to people
If you see neighbors outside, introduce yourself. Mention you're considering the house. People are usually willing to share insights about the neighborhood - especially if there are problems worth knowing.
Check the HOA
If there's a homeowners association, review the meeting minutes and pending litigation. HOA disputes often involve problem neighbors.
The House I Actually Bought
Six months after walking away from the bungalow, I found my actual home: a Cape Cod on a cul-de-sac where the neighbors are lovely people I'm glad to know.
Before making the offer, I researched every surrounding property. Long-term owners, no disputes, no complaints. I visited at multiple times and saw exactly what I expected: a quiet, well-maintained neighborhood where people looked out for each other.
When I moved in, my next-door neighbor brought over cookies. The family across the street invited me to their Fourth of July barbecue. An older gentleman down the street offered to help me fix my fence.
This is what neighborhood should feel like. This is what I almost gave up for a house that was "perfect" in every way except the one that mattered most.
The Question Every Buyer Should Ask
"Who is your neighbor" isn't just a curiosity - it's due diligence. Before you sign papers on the biggest purchase of your life, you owe it to yourself to know who you'll be living next to.
The research takes an afternoon. The results last for as long as you own the home. Don't skip this step. Don't assume everything will be fine. And if you find red flags, trust what you're seeing.
The right house in the wrong neighborhood is still the wrong house. Find both - and you'll find home.