30 Street-Smart People Share How To Spot The Signs Of A Bad Neighborhood Early Enough To Leave Unharmed

"When buying property, there’s an adage that says, 'Buy the worst property in the best area.' However, the best area can mean different things to different people," personal finance and travel expert Rick told Bored Panda that a lot depends on an individual's priorities and lifestyle.

"For instance, the 'best area' could have the best schools, libraries, and access to public transportation. Not only that, but the 'best areas' could also include sports facilities such as indoor/outdoor swimming pools, gymnasiums, tennis courts, and so on," he said.

"For example, living by the beach and having access to good schools are desirable factors in California. Other areas might have different requirements that make them more desirable. Suppose you’re living in a historical city such as Rome. In this case, locals value living near famous landmarks such as the Colosseum and quick access to public transportation. The bottom line: properties tend to appreciate more in areas that tick more boxes."

Meanwhile, the expert shared his thoughts about some of the indicators that can help you figure out if a certain neighborhood is 'good' or 'bad.'

Some green flags include:

• "Things look beautiful. I.e., architectural structures, buildings, etc.
• Clean streets and lawns (If in suburbia)
• Lots of desirable schools
• New cars
• Desirable for tourism 
• Proximity to high-end stores."

On the flip side, here are some signs that you're probably in a bad neighborhood:

• "Run down infrastructure
• Dirty roads
• Old cars
• Visible homeless population
• Lots of check-cashing stores."

People crave certainty and routine, psychologist Lee Chambers explained to Bored Panda during an earlier interview a while ago. These things help us feel safe and help us plan the future in an organized manner.

“When unpredictable situations or accidents impact us, it can be traumatic, and we will likely feel a sense of disappointment, frustration, and loss," he told us. "It is important however that we embrace the fact that the world can be unpredictable and uncertain, and become more tolerant of this being a reality.”

“Understanding that things are sometimes out of our control helps us to accept that not everything goes to plan, and accept when things happen to us that are negative. This acceptance allows us to embrace the change and difference, and manage our expectations so we can become more resilient to the ups and downs that all our lives lead,” the psychologist said that uncertainty is an inseparable part of life. How we deal with this fact is down to us.

"Post-traumatic growth isn't always simple to explain or utilize, but often the adversity we face can create a precedent for what we can overcome, help us to see what we need to be grateful for, and give us an understanding of the support we do have. A big part of opening the door to grow from our struggles is finding acceptance and taking ownership over what you can control and finding healthy ways to express the negative emotion that comes with challenges that test us," the expert told us that adversity can often help us see what truly matters in life. Traumatic and unexpected situations can also help us better understand our values and purpose in life.