Buying a house is a big decision and in most cases, it’s probably one of the biggest decisions a person will make in their lifetime. Therefore, you understandably want to take all the time you need when trying to figure out how to find the right home for you and your family. And that begins with determining what you want in your new home, what features and amenities you will need and finding the perfect location. But exactly how do actually go about doing that? Here are some guidelines you can use while you are trying to determine how to find the right home.
How Do I Stay Organized?
You should begin by having a family meeting and making a list of all your wants and needs. Your list should start with your needs and end with your wants in the order of importance. In most cases, you are probably not going to find everything on your list in one house, which is why it’s so important to prioritize. And if you do happen to find everything you want in one house, you’d better jump on it because that’s a rare occurrence and those are usually few and far between.
What Size Home Do I Need?
Well, this is a tough one because there are so many variables. However, you can start by analyzing what you currently have then determine where your home is lacking. Do you need an extra room or rooms? Do you need a bigger garage or more storage space? Do you need an extra bathroom? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average house size has grown significantly from 1973 to 2010 from about 1,350 square feet to 2,600 square feet, depending on where you live. So take that for what it’s worth, and do your best to properly assess your needs based on your current deficiencies or at least what you know you need. And it wouldn’t hurt to buy something slightly bigger than what you think you need because more space, in most cases, is almost always needed eventually. However, with that being said, the key word is need. As we discussed above, wants and needs are two completely different things, especially if you are on a budget.
Another issue you should consider when trying to determine how much house you need is the yard. Is there enough room for your kids to play or for you to add a pool, if that’s what you want to do? Do you have any kids that are coming up to driving age or are already driving? If so, garage and driveway space will need to be adequate. And don’t forget that many neighborhoods have rules against parking on the street. Do you need a home with extra family-friendly spaces where your kids can do their homework? What about space for sports equipment, hobbies, games, bikes, etc.? Do you need a big kitchen to prepare meals for a large family or for entertaining? As you can see there is plenty to think about when trying to decide how big of a home you actually need. Spending some time tailoring your needs will significantly reduce the chances of you making a bad buying decision.
Should I Buy a House Based On My Future Needs?
Yes, you should buy a house based on your future needs because it’s generally cheaper to buy the house you need for the future now than it is to sell your home and move again in a few years. That means you will need to think about whether or not you anticipate your family growing and if there is a possibility your kids will return home once they’ve moved out, or if you have aging parents that might need to move in with you, etc.? Try to anticipate every possible scenario for your particular situation.
How Do I Find the Perfect Location?
The good news is that finding the perfect location is relatively easy, once you know what to look for. But again, this will widely depend on your particular family’s wants and needs. Do you want a neighborhood with parks, a playground, pool, or community center? Do you need a neighborhood with a high walkability score? Other possible needs might be daycare centers, banks, gas, grocery stores, churches, restaurants or anything else you might need on a daily basis. Ask yourself as many questions as necessary to define what would be included in your perfect location.
Another area you should focus on is the crime in the area. Fortunately, with the internet, it’s very easy to get real-time crime stats that will help you make an educated decision about whether or not a neighborhood is right for you. There are websites such as SpotCrime.com where all you have to do is put an address in the search bar and it will bring back any crime in the area within a five mile radius. You can also sign up for crime alerts for any given address to help determine if there are any emerging crime patterns.
If you have kids, then finding the right schools is also an important factor when it comes to learning how to find the right home. And in the past, you had to do quite a bit of research to learn about whether or not the schools in your chosen location were up to your standards. However, again, with the internet, this is now all really very simple. You can use a website such as GreatSchools.org to receive instant results for many metropolitan area schools. Or any other similar website that will provide you with the results you’re looking for. You should also inquire as to whether or not those schools have the extra-curricular activities your kids need. And if there are after-school programs available or anything else your kids might need.
What’s the Bottom Line?
Performing a little due diligence by spending some time learning how to find the right home could ultimately end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run. If you get this right the first time, you will prevent yourself from having to sell, move, and start all over again. So what’s that worth to you? Priceless!
2 Point Highlight
1.  Buying a house is a big decision and in most cases, it’s probably one of the biggest decisions a person will make in their lifetime.
2. Â Performing a little due diligence by spending some time learning how to find the right home could ultimately end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run.
