Buying a new home can be scary, especially if it’s your first time. One the other hand, it can be an exciting experience, you’re finally ready to take this next step in your life! Choosing and buying a home is a decision you want to make carefully, especially since you’ll be tying up a lot of your hard-earned money into this investment. From choosing the right neighborhood to hiring experienced contractors, we’re here to help make buying a new home a breeze. Let’s take a dive deep into the top 7 things to consider when buying a new home.
- Finding a trusted realtor
This is the first step to success in finding your dream home. You want someone who is reliable and has your best interests at heart. That’s why it’s important to do your homework and make sure that this person is right for you. A great way to start is talking to their recent clients. You can easily ask your potential agents to provide a list of client referrals and listings they’ve sold in the past year. You also want to make sure that this person is legitimate, by finding out if they are indeed licensed realtors or if they have had any disciplinary actions, conflicts etc. Additionally, you want someone who is savvy about your area of interest, they will know where and how to get you the best deals. If you need more information, you can always google your potential agents, see their websites, their credentials and more! At the end of the day it’s about finding someone you can trust and that will help make this process easier, never more difficult.
- Neighborhood (value trajectory)
Finding the right neighborhood is about finding an area that will make you and keep you happy. It’s about your lifestyle. Take a look of where you live now. Think about the things that you love about it and the things you would change. Do you like living a busy city life? Or, do you enjoy living in a quieter area? Next, think amenities. What are your must-haves? Fitness center, community pool, schools, and parks? You might even want to do some research, Does this area have good restaurants, bars, shops? It’s good to determine which amenities are important for you to have and which ones are simply nice to have. Don’t forget about your commute! How far are you willing to drive to work everyday? Will there be traffic? Lastly, you want to consider the market conditions, is this a good place to invest your money? How affordable are these homes? How likely will this area increase in value. When you take all of these factors into consideration, you’re setting yourself on the right path to finding a place that you will be happy to live in for years and years to come.
But you should be careful. We probably don’t have to tell you this, but real estate is a major investment. No matter where and when you’re buying a house, this isn’t a cheap move to make. You’ll be tying up a lot of your hard-earned money into this investment, so you really don’t want to make a bad choice. Don’t worry though – we’re here to help you complete this process with ease. For everything from finding the right house to hiring experienced contractors, we’ve got you covered. If you follow our guide and remember our tips, buying a house will really be a breeze!
The basics of buying a house
So, you’re thinking of buying a house? That’s awesome! While we’re sure you’re going to love your new home, there are a lot of things to consider first. Really, there’s no two ways about it – there’s a lot of work and research ahead of you. As we’ve mentioned before, this won’t be a breeze. From buying a house to finding verified movers, you’ll have a lot to do. Don’t worry though – if you stay focused and dedicated, this will go down quite well.
If you’re tired of the urban life in small, huddled apartments, buying a house is a great idea!
Where to start
If you’ve ever dabbled in real estate, you’ve probably realized something – this is a serious business. And buying a house is an equally serious investment. You’ll need to approach this with extreme care, and do all of the proper research before you decide on what home to purchase. Got that? Great! Now we can move onto the details. When it comes to finding a great home, it’s really two distinct, but equally crucial processes: finding the right neighborhood, and then finding the perfect house.
Choosing the right neighborhood
Yeah, we realize it – when you decide to move, choosing the right town isn’t an easy decision to make. Really, there are countless options for you out there. And each place has its own pros and cons – making the right choice is a nightmare. So that’s the first and most important thing you need to do. But once you’ve chosen your new town, it isn’t time to rest on your laurels just yet. There are still quite a few important decisions ahead! To be more specific, you’ll need to decide on the most suitable neighborhood before you go browsing for your new house. So, what are all the things you have to consider?
Well, for starters, you have to know that the neighborhood that will suit you the best really depends on the way you live. Yeah, obviously your lifestyle is a huge factor in what you consider a perfect neighborhood. A student looking to live off campus has vastly different needs and wants compared to parents with children, after all. While some thrive on the hustle and bustle of a sprawling urban area, others are looking for the peace and quiet of suburbia. So, you’ll need to think long and hard, and consider what you want out of life after buying a house.
Some people like a secluded life, while others thrive in company.
What makes a good neighborhood?
As you’ve realized by now, your neighborhood of choice really depends on your lifestyle. But on the other hand, there’s something else you need to consider. No matter how you conduct your life on a daily basis, there are some things that all good neighborhoods for living have in common. Honestly, there are simply some qualities that every fine area has in common, no matter what kind of lifestyle it fosters. These are thing you’ll want to think about before buying a house. So, what are these factors? Well, among other things:
- The locals – Yeah, we know – this may seem obvious. But in reality, most home-buyers neglect this important factor. Don’t worry though, that’s why we’re here to remind you. Basically, make sure you see and ask around what kind of people live in your potential neighborhood. You can have a giant villa – it still won’t be comfortable if you live near unpleasant neighbors.
- The safety – Speaking of unpleasantness – make sure your new neighborhood is safe enough for you and your family. We really can’t overstate this. If you do your research thoroughly, you’ll know if the area is crime-free. Honestly, you don’t want some suspiciously affordable prices to lead you to a crime-infested neighborhood!
- The general position – Lastly, you’ll want to consider the position of your new neighborhood within its city. While you may want some peace and quiet, you definitely don’t want to be cut off from the rest of the town. And you really don’t want going downtown to be a nuisance! So, make sure you see how well-connected the area is, what the traffic is like, and how good the local public transport is.
Buying the right house
If you’ve made your final decision on the right neighborhood, we can move on! Specifically, now would be the time to make the final preparations for buying a house. If you’ve chosen the right area, this decision will be much easier, so don’t worry. However, this is the part where you’ll have to pay attention to details and remain focused – this is the final stretch, so don’t lose your cool!
Firstly, you’ll need to think on what you actually need out of your new home. These are things like the number of stories – do you need a single-story house, or more? And also, how large does your home need to be in general. You don’t want to overstep your bounds. And while we really believe you’re as rational as they calm, we still have to remind you. You wouldn’t believe us just how thoughtless people can be while buying a house. It’s easy to get carried away and start spending more than you can realistically afford – so stay rational when making this choice! Don’t forget there will inevitably be some home remodelling to do afterwards. And once you’ve found your perfect neighborhood and your dream house, you’ll finally be able to relax.