Everyone has his or her opinion of certain places, especially when a question like this arises: "Would you like to live in....?" Fill in the blank. You will get a wide array of answers, most of them strongly worded.

So whom do you believe? Thankfully, it's now possible to do your own research and find out for yourself. After all, one man's meditation garden is another man's weed patch. We all have different needs, and we can now avail ourselves of ways to discover whether a particular area meets those needs.

Step one is to go onto the Internet. Most areas have various websites, from the Chamber of Commerce to local businesses to local neighborhoods. They can also lead you to addresses of organizations that will send you informational material on the areas that attract you.

Then spend time in the places you're considering moving to. Walk the streets, shop the shops, look at the schools, check the amenities. And when you've found specific neighborhoods, check them out at different times of the day and night−-even noticing where the sun rises and falls−-and check into seasonal weather patterns. Something in you will click when you're in the right place−-give yourself every opportunity to know. For more information on moving call Beth at (425) 450-5208 and visit her website at www.bethbillington.com.

Beth Billington is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker Bain in Bellevue, WA.