This is just a short list of some resources that are helpful when looking for a new home in New York City. Almost all of the resources are GIS powered web applications. While these resources are helpful, the best way to really get a feel of a neighborhood is to just go there and take a walk around.
- My Neighborhood Statistics - Performance statistics for NYC neighborhoods.
- New York City Map Portal - This site lets you map out all of the city services in a neighborhood. It even displays subway routes and stops, which is good when planning a trip to a certain area. (I think this is the only dynamic mapping site that provides this info. It's something I think mapping sites like mapquest should include for large metropolitan cities.)
- Police Reports/Crime Statistics - To use the reports you need to know the police precinct, which you can find out by using the public safety tab on the My Neighborhood site above.
- NYC Public Schools
View maps of school boards and obtain school report cards. - New York Metro Real Estate section