I agree with Tom. Real estate professionals risk losing their licenses if they direct you to or away from specific neighborhoods, towns, or streets. It is an anti-discrimination issue that is taken VERY seriously. Agents, take note: Fake "buyers' are sometimes sent out by the state to test your complience with this!!! My recommendation, in addition to talking with the Pittsfield police, is to talk with local residents and read the local papers. If you work in Pittsfield, talk with your co-workers. Realize, though, that "high crime" and "nice neighborhood" are very relative terms. What one person finds totally acceptable or unacceptable may not be so to you. You must get a real sense of the area for yourself, so visit areas around listings that are interesting to you at various times of day. Take it all in. What do YOU think of the area ? - That's all that really matters. If you find an area that you would prefer to avoid, tell your agent. If YOU stipulate that you don't want to receive information on "X" Street, or streets, the agent can set up the MLS search to leave listings there out of what is sent to you. Good luck on your search!

Aziz,

Professional realtors need to be careful about "steering" buyers to perceived "safe" neighborhoods. If you have concerns about crime in specific neighborhoods in Pittsfield, I would suggest you speak with the local Police precinct in Pittsfield. They can share statistics with you that may prove helpful.

Good luck in your search!

Best,

Tom Lynch
Associate Broker, Berkshire Property Agents
Great Barrington, Massachusetts

I agree that there are nice homes on the west side of Pittsfield. I do not live in Pittsfield but own a business here and have some very good customers that live in that area. Like the other person said, look over towards BCC - Churchill, Blythewood, Tor Court, Appletree Lane, Cascade Rd, Roberta Rd, other roads off West Street.

When we moved to Pittsfield a year ago we heard the same thing as as Ms. Cartier said. But then we discovered there is a big difference between "West Side" and "West Pittsfield". We ended up purchasing a beautiful home in a great neighborhood about 1.5 miles west of downtown (West Pittsfield), and have found it to be an extremely safe neighborhood. We have subsequently learned that any of the neighborhoods west of Jason/Valentine Road out to Berkshire Community College are safe.

Aziz,

I am a local Realtor servicing the Pittsfied area. If you need assistance in locating a home and information about the area, please contact me directly at (646) 290 5585 or by email: fredamanuel@yahoo.com

Regards,
Freda

Look in the south and the east side....stay away from the north and west sides.