Deciding what you want
When buying a
home, most first time home buyers have a general idea of the type and size of a
house they want, as well as the location they will feel
comfortable in.
If you don’t
know what type of house is for you, knowing what types of homes
are out there will help you make an smart decision as to the type
of house that is for you.
Making a “wish
list” will help you and the real estate agent narrow down the
amount of homes to those that will suit your needs.
Use
worksheet 6 to find your housing needs.
New
vs. older home
Most first time home buyers buy an already
existing home, but some people like the idea of moving into a new
home.
New homes are usually clustered together with
the same size and style homes, in the same price range.
A new home is more likely to have an efficient
heating/cooling system, better insulation, and more affordable to
maintain.
Older homes come in all sizes and
personalities. They
are often made with better quality materials than newer homes, but
their age may require more cost to keep it maintained. If you
enjoy working with tools, a “fixer upper” may be for you.
Location
For many first
time home buyers,
the location of the home they buy is their most important
consideration; for many others, location may not be a real choice.
You probably know already whether you will be shopping for
a home in an urban, suburban, or rural area.
You may already know exactly what neighborhood you want to
live in.
Choosing a neighborhood
Select a community, when buying a home,
that will allow you to best live your daily life. Many people
choose communities based on schools. Do you want access to
shopping and public transportation? Is access to local facilities
like libraries and museums important to you? Or do you prefer the
peace and quiet of a rural community?
When
you find places that you like, talk to people that live there.
They know the most about the area and will be your future
neighbors. More than anything, you want a neighborhood where you
feel comfortable in after you buy your house.
Size
requirements
When buying a
home, there are many important considerations such as:
- Is the number and size of rooms right for your needs?
- Is the house large enough for your family size?
- How soon will you outgrow the house?
- Is the size of the lot what you want?
- Is space for a yard, garden, or off-street parking is
important to you?
Special
features
You should also
consider whether there are any particularly important special
requirements such as:
- Do you need space for laundry facilities?
- Is a garage necessary?
- A second bathroom?
- A porch?
- Air-conditioning?
- Wheelchair accessibility?
>Next> Learn
how to find the house of your needs
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