Q: We own a home on Vashon but are thinking seriously about buying a condo in the city

for those days when we work really late or are attending an evening event. We have a real estate agent that we’re happy with, but we don’t seem to be able to find out about crime in the areas we are interested in. We also worry about noise, especially on weekends. Most of the condos are in the downtown area close to stores and restaurants. Any ideas?

A: Your Realtor probably knows the neighborhoods very well and can advise you, but there are a couple of things I’d recommend. First, check with the police department. They have a break down of crime by the type of crime and number of crimes committed in each neighborhood. That should be helpful.

Be sure and look on the Internet for comparison with other similar-sized cities. It could be a shock to find that the neighborhood you are interested in has dozens of assaults, for instance, but that number might be very low when compared to other cities of the same population.

I would also recommend that you drive around in the area, or even walk it, late on a Friday or Saturday night for a couple of weekends. That should tell you how much traffic noise, or loud music from taverns and events there is. It will also give you an idea of what’s happening on the street.

Obviously drug activity should be a major concern, so ask the police department about that. Be observant about unusual behavior around the condos you are interested in. Some of the condo buildings, especially some of the newer ones, have a lot of security and you should check that out as well.

Another idea might be to stay in a couple of hotels that are very close to the areas you’re interested in. That should tell you a lot about noise and the general street scene. Cities have their own rhythm, and it takes a while to get used to it. Best of luck.