The Home Buying Process
Step 1: Identify Your Priorities
Finding the right home, or “the home of your dreams,” requires understanding your priorities and expectations. Every family and person has a different concept and definition of the place that they call “home.” Making a list of priorities for yourself or your family will make your home search more productive. Here are some things to consider when composing your list prior to searching for homes.
Home Features
- Square Footage / Size
- Price
- Floor Plan
- Number of stories
- Style of Home
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Yard size and requirements (children? pets?)
- Garage size
- Closet Space
- Kitchen / Great Room
- Fireplaces
- Furnace
- Air Conditioning
Neighborhood Features
- Corner lot vs. middle of the street lot
- Traffic count
- Public Transportation
- Distance from work and local attractions
- Sense of Community
- Parks
- Quality of School Districts
Financial Considerations
- Potential for Home Appreciation
- Value of surrounding homes to yours
- Frequency of home sales
- Property Taxes
