How to Spot Bad Neighbors When Buying a House

After months of looking, you've finally found the house of your dreams. It's the perfect size, the perfect price, and the perfect layout. However, there's only one small problem. You think you might be living next door to a neighbor, or a neighboring property, that's less than desirable.

[In Pictures: 10 Affordable Spots for Summer Vacation]

How do you know? The grass in the yard is knee-high, there's a rusty vehicle peeking out of some overgrown brush, and the house's paint is peeling away like old wallpaper. As a result, you're torn. Is a lousy neighbor going to make the house more difficult to sell when you're ready to move again?

This is an important question to ask when buying a house, and there's a one word answer for it: Yes. When you're shopping for a home, even a fantastic house is going to seem blighted if it's plopped right next door to a lousy neighbor. You may love the place, but most buyers are going to shy away from the property, which means selling could be a long, complicated affair.

Remember, the old adage "location, location, location" is around for a reason. You can always change a house, but you can't change its location. Ignoring the neighborhood, and your neighbors, is one of the most common common home buying mistakes you can make, especially if you're a first-time home buyer. And, bad neighbors can come in many guises. What should you look for?

via ca.finance.yahoo.com