The Keys to Buying a Home

Are you searching for your first home and not sure how to begin? It’s always a time saver when you can narrow the scope of what you are looking for in regards to style, location and price.

Style is subjective so this is easy to nail down – Perhaps you prefer the architecture and durability of an older home (Old Spanish, Colonial, Victorian, Cape Cod, etc.) or are you looking for a more contemporary style home with all the modern amenities? Whatever your preference, have a plan so that you don’t waste a lot of time looking at homes you find you have no interest in.

Some things to consider before you call a realtor may be:

• Do you want a home that is move-in ready or is a fixer-upper okay? Move-in ready may be subjective but there usually are certain city or governing municipality requirements that must be met (such as operable plumbing, electricity, locking doors and windows, and passing certain required pest inspections). If move-in ready is not important and time and money aren’t issues, then the playing field is wide open.
• Is the neighborhood important? Usually this is a significant factor for many reasons. Do you want a family oriented neighborhood in a prime school district? Do you want a more urban feel with restaurants and shops within walking distance? Is resale value critical? Make sure you conduct some research before you make any decisions.
• Is the size of the home a significant factor? Do you have a required minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms? If you absolutely need at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, then don’t waste precious time looking at smaller homes.
• Do you have a price range that you must adhere to? This may come into play when finding homes that meet all your requirements and fall within your price range. You want to make sure you buy a home that you can afford!

There are many other details that you may want to consider in addition to the above but once you figure out your basic home buying needs then you have enough information to give the realtor. Happy hunting!