How to find a home that fits your lifestyle

Finding a home that complements the way you live is one of the most important steps in the home buying process. These are what you should keep in mind when looking at homes for sale in Tacoma, WA. It plays a crucial role in the health and happiness of the whole family. It also has a huge impact on all aspects of your life, from your finances to your general wellbeing.

Here are some tips to help you out:

Enlist the help of a local real estate agent

Most first-time homebuyers don’t realize that there are many steps to buying a house that will require a great deal of work, time, and research. The whole process spans from preparing for the purchase to negotiating for the best deal. Make your home buying experience a lot easier by getting help from a local real estate agent. They have the expertise to guide you through your purchase and provide you with relevant information.

For the best results, find someone who’s familiar with the area and the type of house you want to buy. If you’re looking for the best Pierce County agents, get in touch with us at the Lewandowski Group here! We’ll be happy to help you find the home of your dreams.

Don’t stray from your budget

A couple of hundred dollars over your price range may not seem like a lot but costs can quickly accumulate and dent your finances significantly in the future. Remember, buying a home means paying for things like home inspection, closing costs, and repairs. All these costs could increase significantly with a more expensive home.

Look at your finances carefully and make sure your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and savings are in good shape. Getting a pre-approved mortgage is also ideal and gives you a better idea of how much you can afford. Once you factor in all the financial requirements for buying a home in your budget, make sure you stick to it.

Compute your day-to-day living costs

Speaking of finances, monthly expenses like utilities, mortgage payments, and insurance greatly affect your quality of life so think about these, too. Research on the cost of living in different neighborhoods of Pierce County and find a place that’s comfortable for you. Also, always save some cash for emergencies so you can have a safety net to fall back on.

Consider the location of your property

Find a neighborhood that could provide easy access to important places like your workplace, schools, and commercial/retail hubs. Safety is a top priority too, so make sure the community has appropriate security measures in place. Look out for upcoming developments as well because they’re a sign of a healthy economy and rising home values.

Other factors that can determine the desirability of a property’s location are the community amenities, as well as places for recreation. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a community near parks and hiking spots would be ideal.

Focus on the home’s features

Focus on the number of rooms, bathrooms, stories, and square footage of the home, as well as its amenities. Think carefully about the home’s layout and how it can serve your lifestyle.

For those with a penchant for inviting and entertaining guests, find a home with spacious common areas and an open floor plan. Avid hobbyists or collectors should look for a property with plenty of storage and extra rooms. If you have plans of settling down and having a family, consider a bigger home with enough elbow room to accommodate new members of your household.

Look beyond the aesthetics

Don’t be too put off by ugly wallpaper or tacky furniture. What’s important about the home is that it can meet your lifestyle needs. Remember, you can always change the design of the home and replace the furniture. Keep an open mind and a sharp eye so you won’t miss out on any diamonds in the rough.

Visit the home and the neighborhood in person

Before making an offer on a home, it helps to visit it in person not just once but several times. In succeeding visits, be more thorough and look at things you might have missed on your first tour. Visiting the neighborhood at different times of day can also give you a better idea of the area’s pulse. During these visits, also ask your realtor for their insights as they have more experience looking over a home’s features and flaws than anyone else.

Always leave room for growth

The home you choose should be able to adapt to meet your future needs. As your lifestyle changes, so should your home. Ask yourself how long you plan on living in the home and what your goals are. That way, there will never be a point in time where you’ll feel buyer’s remorse because your home couldn’t keep up with your plans in life.

Ready to look for the perfect home in Tacoma, WA? Get in touch with us today!