There's no perfect home,
but some homes are more ideal for your household than others. When you look for
your next home, carefully consider these four criteria –price, features,
location and condition. The closer you get to meeting all four criteria, the
better your chances are of making a good buy.
Price
In any market, price has
to come first. To determine what you can comfortably afford, talk to your real
estate professional. He or she can recommend a lender who will prequalify you
for a purchase loan. When you know how much you can spend, it will be easier to
shop for homes within your price range. With luck, one will stand out.
Features
The size of your household
and your activities determine the features you want in your next home. The
number of bedrooms, baths and living areas are a matter of comfort and
convenience. You may want an extra bedroom for guests or a second master suite
for parents.
If you work a lot at home,
you'll want a private home office or a computer nook. You may
want a playroom for the kids, a separate laundry area, and fenced yard and
covered patio for entertaining. An eat-in kitchen may be more important to you
than a formal dining room. You may want an outdoor kitchen or at least an
entertainment area.
Think about your daily
life from morning to bedtime, and how your next home can make these activities
more pleasant. This should be your "must-have" list, and will help
you look at homes more objectively.
Location
Some areas will always be
more expensive to live in than others. Neighborhoods that are well-kept tend to
maintain higher home values. Homes that are close to jobs, schools and shopping
centers tend to sell for more money than homes without as much infrastructure.
What is the best home you
can find in the area where you want to live? If these homes are out of your
range, you can compromise -- buy a smaller home or a home that needs lots of
work in the best neighborhood you can afford.
Condition
Condition refers to the
state of repair. Does the home have curb appeal? Is it updated and
well-maintained, or does it need extensive and expensive remodeling? Carefully
consider any deferred maintenance, such as a roof that may need to be replaced
in only a few years. Consider the design and functionality -- is the kitchen
too small and would you be able to afford to remodel it? Look closely at
repairs, cleanliness and traffic flow.
The one advantage of
buying a home that needs updates and repairs is that these homes cost less than
updated homes in the same neighborhood.
Be prepared to compromise.
Don't frustrate yourself or your family looking for perfection. Sometimes the
home of your dreams doesn't have every feature on your checklist, or it may be
a little further away than your favorite neighborhood, but you'll be happy if
it has most of criteria you want at the price you can afford.
Article on Realtytimes.com
Information Courtesy of
the Rodriguez-Hamilton
Realty Team.
As your agent, I will
provide personal and professional attention to all your needs. I will counsel
you in the sale or purchase of your house and I will make the process simple
and quick. I have the motivation and passion to help you get what you desire.
Rodriguez-Hamilton Realty Team
Keller
Williams Realty Partners SW
Pembroke
Pines, FL
954-296-2107
mayorealtor@gmail.com
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