Finding the Right Home

Purchasing a home is much easier said than done. As one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, the home you choose must first meet several criteria. Below are just some of the factors you need to consider:

Budget

Budget isn’t the only factor to consider when buying your dream home, but it will dictate a lot of the factors listed below. Want to live in a nicer part of town or get a bigger house? It’ll cost you more. That’s why setting a price range early on is crucial, as it clearly defines what you can or can’t do.

In general, housing-related payments (including your mortgage, insurance, and maintenance costs) shouldn’t exceed 30% of monthly income. You’ll also want to save up for a 20% down payment and have a healthy credit score if you want to get the best interest rates possible.

Urban or Suburban?

If your idea of the perfect home life is picket fences, tree-lined streets, and gated communities, the suburbs might be best for you. You can live far from the bustle of the city, and enjoy a larger house and lot sizes. For those who wish to live in the heart of the city, however, a condominium would be ideal. These are conveniently located in urban centers so you have easy access to work places, transportation hubs, shopping districts, and nightlife hotspots.

Neighborhood

The next step is to look at a specific neighborhood in your chosen location. There are many factors to consider but school quality, proximity to transportation routes, crime rates, and recreational opportunities are crucial. Also, check historical property values; you want to move to an area where your home’s value will likely increase over the years. Luckily, there are websites that provide these details and more. You can also ask your real estate agent to furnish this information.

Property Size

When it comes to homes, there really is no one size to fit all. To a large extent, a certain life stage determines the size of the home you need. Downsizing retirees might want a smaller home as it also requires less upkeep. On the flip side, growing families might want a bigger home to better accommodate their brood. Size also encompasses factors such as the number of floors, bedrooms, and bathrooms in the house. You could also do a bit of forward planning. If you know you want more kids in the future, it’d be wise to purchase a bigger home now.

Style

While size is a function of need, style is a matter of preference. One might argue that function trumps looks, but wouldn’t you rather live in a house that’s aesthetically pleasing? It’s a good thing that homes for sale in Tacoma, WA comes in a variety of styles. Some have sleek, modern designs featuring clean lines and minimalist elegance. Others have more traditional design features, such as porticos, flag stones, and the like. It’s important to communicate these preferences to your agent so they can shortlist properties that will suit your taste.

Features

On the other hand, your home’s features make up a combination of both wants and needs. If you have dogs, you might want a property that has a bigger yard. For health buffs, having a home gym or a lap pool may be non-negotiable. Avid cooks might want a chef-worthy kitchen.

Everyone’s wish list is different but it’s important to list down your ideal features then decide which ones are must-have or nice-to-have. Don’t be inflexible, though—if a home has most of the features you want, it’s okay to compromise one or two things.

Layout

Space allocation tells you a lot about what’s important to a people. For instance, some might be okay with having smaller bedrooms if it means having bigger living rooms. Some owners prefer an open-plan layout because it’s easier to keep an eye on the kids.

Also, note that changing a home’s layout, later on, can be expensive and time-consuming. Thus, choose a home that has the ideal layout from the get-go. It’s much better to worry about how to design your home’s interiors than to figure out which walls to take down.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider before buying a home Thus, it is best for you to think things out thoroughly before taking the plunge. But when you’re finally ready to start house hunting, allow me, Lori Lewandowski, to guide you through the home buying process.

With over a decade of real estate experience, deep knowledge of the local market, and a wide network of contacts, your dream home will soon be within reach. Just give me a call at 253.617.5922 or send an e-mail to lorilewandowski@gmail.com.