Stay on Track While Searching for a Home

One of the hardest items for a home buyer to do is to basically choose the best house. Far too frequently impluse choices interfere with the best decision. Being able to take a step back and really ponder whether this is the best-suited house for you can be challenging. Is the property you have fallen in love with actually the best house for your desires and way of life? We have put together a list of things to support you to look past those staging methods and other cosmetic items that can unproportionally affect your decision. Looking for a house can be a lot of fun, especially when many appealing homes are on the market. But before you make an offer on the one thats captured your affections you will need to evaluate the home against some different forms of criteria. This will ensure that you purchase a home you not only love, but can grow in and enjoy. Lets start off with the big one, price. Just because you can buy a more expensive home isnt going to mean you necessarily should do so. The more money you spend on mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and repair and maintenance costs, the less youll have to spend on your other wants and needs. Do some research on being house poor. You dont want to be the person who has that gigantic, luxurious home with only a fold-out chair and card table. Additionally, you dont want a home that requires too many monthly bills to maintain your lifestyle. The price can often be tied to the size of the home. Square footage is important, but so are the relative sizes of the various rooms and the use of space throughout the house. A staircase, multiple hallways or odd alcoves could make a large house seem smaller than its square footage. Check out the closets too. Lets not forget the floor plan. Some homes have an efficient and pleasing arrangement of rooms while others have odd configurations that may seem maze-like or dictate inconvenient traffic patterns. A two-story house can offer more living space for those who dont mind the extra effort every day. So, a more pricey home with an inconvenient floor plan may not be best suited for you. However, it is important to note that there is always the potential factor. If youre willing to do some remodeling and work, you may see opportunities to turn a poor floor plan into something amazing. Construction and work may not be up your alley, so take a close look at the condition of the house as well. A stylish, well-maintained home will cost more than a similar house thats not in good shape. If you dont mind hiring contractors or making repairs yourself, you might be able to buy that less-attractive house at a discount. Otherwise, you might prefer to purchase a house thats in good condition. Where the residence is located can really affect the charm and character. However, good character can offset a slightly less desirable location. Some neighborhoods are citified while others are suburban or rural. Some have matured with the passage of time while others are brand new. Some are staid while others are funky. Choose a location to live that suits your personality and lifestyle. Just remember that location is not something that money can correct. Be sure to drive through the neighborhood and surrounding areas thoroughly. Look for how close it is to dining destinations to increase the value of the location or for less desirable businesses that deter investment into the area. Going along with location youll need to investigate the zoning. Local laws set limits on the number and size of housing units that can be built on residential lots. That means some areas may be open to mansion-sized homes or higher-density housing while others may have restrictions that prohibit such uses. The zoning can greatly affect the type of construction you can do on your lot. A house thats next to a shopping mall, school, park, transit stop or other non-residential use may or may not be desirable, depending on your preferences. A home on a corner lot might be larger and more private than neighboring homes, but could also be subject to more traffic noise. Any problem that would be outrageously expensive or impossible to fix is called an incurable defect. Examples include an airplane flight path, bizarre floor plan, inadequate parking or inordinately loud traffic noise. Dont buy a home with an incurable defect unless youre willing to live with that condition as long as you occupy that home. Some houses are plagued by wood-eating bugs, high levels of radon, molds, lead-based paint or other potential hazards. If youre concerned about any of these conditions, hire a qualified expert to inspect the house. Find out whether the house is located in a flood plain or a high fire-risk area. Youll find these out relatively quickly when you look at home owners insurance. Additionally, be sure that you hire a reputable home inspector to look for insect damage, especially termites and mold. These can usually be found relatively quickly. Have a great time looking for your next house. Pay attention to the details and always ask questions. If you follow some of this advice and do your homework, you should find yourself in a great place.