| Describing The Dream Once you have a good idea of how much home you can afford, it's time to start figuring out what features are the most important. We can help turn your desires into an organized list that will help you evaluate your options. It's time to ask yourself a very important question -What am I looking for in a home?
Searching for your dream home is exciting, but there is no magic formula for determining which home is right for you. The home shopping process is much more subjective and intangible.
To help you through this phase, we're pleased to present you with some housing preference considerations.
Location, location, location
To narrow down the possible destinations in your area, start with the broad strokes such as price range and general locale and then fill in the details such as neighborhood, features, and type of ownership (condo, townhome or traditional detached house).
For many, quality of life factors such as proximity to schools and work are important, but if you're concerned about resale value, focus on location and neighborhood.
There is no single factor that affects the value of your home more than location. Most buyers are willing to sacrifice desired home features and preferences to get into the area or neighborhood they want to live in. This makes sense: You can always add an extra room or a swimming pool later. But once you've moved in, no amount of home improvements can move your house from the city to the suburbs, or from the east side to the west side.
Here are the seven top characteristics that potential buyers look for when choosing a neighborhood to live in, brought to you courtesy of a recent survey: Source: Newspaper Association of America
| 1. | Good schools | | 2. | A "good" or "better" neighborhood | | 3. | Close to shopping | | 4. | Proximity to work | | 5. | Close to family/friends | | 6. | Low crime | | 7. | Close to parks/recreation |
Picking the right neighborhood will require plenty of diligence on your part. To do it fast and smart, try some of these tips - then go with your gut.
| 1. | Get a detailed map. Locate the schools, parks, shopping areas, hospitals. Just go to MAPBLAST.com and enter an address to create a map of the area. | | 2. | Visit, Walk around, Drive around. Visit the local neighborhoods at different times, during the week. Check out the morning drive on you way to work and evening commute on your way home. Do you like to the way the neighborhood was planned? Does it appear safe and well-lit? Are you impressed by the conditions of the houses and yards you see? | | 3. | Ask friends and co-workers what they know about the area. Someone may already live there or know someone that can give you the 411. | | 4. | Grade the schools. Contact the local school board. Here are some points to consider: average class size, enrichment programs, special needs programs, standardized test results. |
If you haven't created your Buyer Desire checklist, now is the time to put your thoughts and ideas about your ideal home down on paper. |