If you are in the market for a new home, there are many things to consider to ensure that the home you buy is right for you, your life, and your future. Depending on the stage of your life and the reason for your upcoming home purchase, different features become more or less important to include in your list of necessary amenities. Let’s take a look at some of the major factors to look for when trying to find the home that is right for you.
First Time Home Buyers
Starting with first time home buyers…It is reasonable to assume that a first-time home buyer is going to have to make the most sacrifices in order to get their foot in the door of their first property. However, that doesn’t mean they have to settle for a home that isn’t the right fit for them. When shopping for your first home it is important to identify your short- and long-term goals for the house. For example, is the home an investment property that will be sold later when the need for more space arises, or do you need to look for a property with room to expand? Once you have an idea of what your future goals are you can more easily narrow down your options.
For a first home that will be sold in the short term look for locations that will maximize your potential return. In fact, fixer uppers can be a good way to work your way into a better neighborhood. Also consider the potential of keeping the home to rent when it’s time to move into your second home. Neighborhoods close to schools, tourist attractions, and large corporate headquarters make great rental properties.
For those who plan to stay in a place for the long term it is also important to consider the neighborhood. Growing families should remember to find a home with parks and recreational activities nearby. Do a little research on the local schools so you can settle within the highest rated district. As mentioned before, it’s ok to get a smaller home or a fixer upper in the best location you can afford, just ensure that you have some room for expansion. It can be cheaper to build out extra rooms and bathrooms on your existing home when the need for more space arrives.
Current Homeowners
Now, let’s move on to current homeowners who may have outgrown the home they are in or purchased a home that ended up being a bad fit. Many homeowners outgrow their houses as their family grows, but you can grow out of you home in other ways too. Status is a big one here – for many working adults when, their career takes off they want to enjoy their new expendable income. This is often used on new homes and apartments full of the amenities that were previously out of reach. This also means moving closer to work to shorten commute time and moving to nicer neighborhoods with shops, restaurants and entertainment nearby. Finding a partner, significant other, or getting married is another common reason for a move; just adding one person to a household can greatly expand the amount of space and the type of amenities needed to make your home comfortable.
Moving into your second home is a perfect opportunity to get things right. We suggest narrowing down your search to the areas and neighborhoods that fit your lifestyle and are within your price range. Luckily, technology has made this prosses quick and easy with an endless list of websites and apps dedicated to real estate. Next, make a list of the things you must have in a new home and the things you are willing to compromise on or that can be added at a later date. Last, after visiting the available homes that fit your criteria, take the time to scope out the neighborhoods. Hang out and stop in at different times of day and different days of the week to see if there is any change in things like traffic and noise. Don’t be afraid to have some friendly conversations with your potential neighbors and ask them what they like and dislike about a neighborhood – they will probably voluntarily tell you all the gossip you need to know.
If you are putting your house on the market soon and would like to focus your attention on finding the home that is right for you rather than on selling your existing home, we may be able to help. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we can take the hassle out of putting your home on the market. Call us today for a free home appraisal and get cash for your home in as little as five days!
