Northeast LA (NELA) already is popular for several reasons. But when narrowing down to a specific neighborhood it helps to know what to look for.

Just a few years ago (in 2014), Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) initiated the city’s first bike friendly business district, or BFBD in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock. No surprise considering that in the years leading up to 2014, homes in Eagle Rock and surrounding areas – real estate in Highland Park has exploded with homebuyer interest – have pushed NELA to the top of LA’s hottest real estate markets.

The BFBD designation promotes better bike infrastructure on streets (corrals, signage, repair stations) that include Colorado, Eagle Rock and York boulevards and Figueroa Street. Businesses along those corridors hope to benefit as much as retailers in Long Beach and other cities have seen when bikers prove to be consumers.

This is a situation where location – as in the real estate mantra “location location location” – affects real estate values. A bike-friendly environment is a plus with younger buyers who gravitate toward non-motor vehicle transportation for at least a portion of their lifestyle. Northeast LA cities such as Highland Park and others clustered around the Lincoln/Cypress, Heritage Square and Southwest Museum stops on the Metro Gold Line have the advantage of being able to commute to downtown and Pasadena without turning an ignition key.

Aside from transportation questions, there are several other location questions a homebuyer in NELA should consider:

Worst home in the best neighborhood?  Historically, your best chance for buying a home that will increase in value is to find the sad little fixer-upper in the pricier zip code (e.g., Mt. Washington). That is still true IF you’re a fixer-upper kind of person. Doing the opposite, to buy the awesome house in a dicey area, might leave you with buyer’s remorse and few buyers when it comes time to sell. But if you want a move-in ready home that stacks up well with the neighbors, expect to pay full price for the privilege.

Businesses within walking distance?  Younger buyers are also expressing an interest in a walkable neighborhood, some consulting Walkscore.com to compare different homes and neighborhoods. Some studies show that proximity to Starbucks, Target and Whole Foods is associated with higher value increases over the past two decades. But perhaps what matters most is individual: If you are a bowler, you might love the exercise of a ten-minute walk to a bowling alley. Also, there is research that challenges the notion that proximity to strip clubs and marijuana dispensaries hurts a home’s value (early research in Colorado in particular suggests just the opposite).

Buy low while the neighborhood is on the rise?  This mirrors the “buy low sell high” axiom of investing. And there is a lot of truth to it: when a large number of homes are being renovated in a mature neighborhood, it generally speaks to positive price increases. The trick is to get in at the earlier stages of such trends. But there are some things to look for which provide hints: is the neighborhood adjacent to other areas that are hot today? Is the existing housing stock “historic,” meaning 50+ years old and in its original design? Midcentury modern without a 1990s renovation would work, as would a 1910 Victorian with the original gingerbread trim. A collection of independent restaurants, art galleries and hipster coffee shops also are precursors to neighborhood gentrification (hot tip: check out Hermon, Garvanza and Glassell Park).

Concerns about environmental issues?  California laws require disclosure of lead and known toxins in the soils. But if a gas station or dry cleaner was in the vicinity in decades past, you might hire an environmental investigation firm to study a specific property.

School districts – and property taxes?  Good school districts almost always translate into higher property values. But with them tend to come higher property taxes. Empty nesters might look outside the box if the quality of schools doesn’t affect them personally – but a Starbucks down the street does.

Location does matter – but there are many factors that define what a location actually has.

NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES IS A DESTINATION FOR THOUSANDS OF HOMEBUYERS. IF YOU PLAN TO SELL, BE SURE TO PICK AN AGENT WITH THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS.

In a strong real estate market, as currently exists in Northeast Los Angeles (NELA), it’s easy to imagine one simply needs to throw up a sign and the offers will come in. But it rarely (if ever) works that way. Real estate in Eagle Rock and homes in Highland Park are in demand, but that sure doesn’t mean a seller doesn’t have to perform due diligence to find the right agent. A selling agent will make sure the home is made to be maximally attractive and sell at the best price, working on behalf of the current owners and their best interests.So what makes the best choice in Realtors? Your ideal selling agent offers the following:

Experience in the area and the types of homes – A good real estate agent in Northeast Los Angeles absolutely will have experience in single family residences because the inventory of homes for sale in Pasadena, Glassell Park, Hermon, Eagle Rock and Highland Park is rich with bungalows, mid-century moderns (MCMs) and Victorian homes. But the condo market in each of these towns is strong as well. Some agents consult with colleagues who specialize in one or the other.

Will share references of past clients – The relative success of a Realtor is defined by what they have sold in the past. Of course, both sellers and buyers need to complete their transactions with some degree of satisfaction. So ask to speak with at least five past clients to learn how well things went: ask about the hunting phase, negotiating, the guidance they offered to find a lender, in the closing process and after the closing.

Will market it using appropriate tactics – The Internet has upended the world of selling homes in that so many first “showings” are done online. So your agent should be adept with photography, videography and placement of that imagery on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube, as well as real estate online portals Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com. But note that not all tools work for all types of properties in all locales. Ask your agent questions as to what is selected and why. Once the property is posted online, you will be able to see the traffic it gets and perhaps get feedback as well.

Is communicative – How do you prefer to communicate (particularly when at work)? If you want to text, or email, or speak by voice, your Realtor should be able to do the same. You are the customer, after all. If you are at work in Pasadena but your home in Mt. Washington or Garvanza might have a last-minute buyer, minute-by-minute communication can be critical.

Provides gently blunt advice –This is sometimes referred to as the “your children are ugly” conversation. Almost every home seller will need to make physical changes to the property and sometimes accept price compromises in order to get a sales contract. Do not take constructive criticism personally – listen to what your agent knows from his or her work in the field to get rid of a sofa, change a rug, clean out closets or lower your price expectations. They share your ultimate interests – to sell the property – so the advice is always genuine. Your “child” just needed a new haircut and braces, in most cases.

Realtors are like any professional in that no two are alike. Buying and selling real estate demands patience and dedication and, above all, buyers and sellers performing their due diligence to learn more about the background, resources and track record of whichever agent they hire.