Where do you want to live?

Determining your desired location should be one of the first steps to the home buying process. Not only will it help narrow down your options, but choosing a location is crucial to your overall happiness with your home. Finding your dream home with all the features that you are looking for may not completely satisfy you if it’s located in an area you don’t like. How do you determine which location is best?

Consider the following factors:

Neighborhoods

Exploring the neighborhood is a great opportunity to see if you can picture yourself living in that particular community. When visiting a home, evaluate factors such as the noise level, average age of neighbors, proximity to major roads, and parking availability. By assessing the surrounding area, you can get a better sense of the people and vibe to see if it’s a good match for you.

Schools

If you have children or are planning to raise children in the future, you should consider your home’s proximity to local schools and the quality of education at each school.

Safety

Safety can be an essential factor for home buyers, so take that into consideration when determining your location. Although you can get a pretty good sense of the safeness of your location by visiting the neighborhood, you can also check various websites to evaluate the local crime rates in specific areas.

Additional Benefits

In addition to the neighborhood, schools, and safety of the location, you should also take into consideration the proximity to things like parks, grocery stores, freeways, and popular attractions. Having fun things to do nearby and great weather may be another advantage to living in a certain location.

How much are you willing to spend?

Determining your price range is a key component to setting the tone for the home buying process. Before you meet with your Realtor, you should have an idea of what you can realistically afford. Your Realtor can then give you a better idea of what kind of home you’ll be able to buy given your budget. Keep in mind that factors like location, size, and style can drastically alter the price of the home. Also, it’s a good idea to start off with a lower budget because people tend to overspend to buy their dream home. Having a price range can help expedite the buying process while giving your Realtor practical guidelines to work with.

What are you looking for in a home?

How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want? What style or layout best suits you and your family? Are you looking for a home with certain features, such as an attached garage, big backyard, or swimming pool? Being able to answer questions like these prior to meeting with your Realtor will help your Realtor get a better idea of what you are looking for in a home. Knowing your must haves will help your Realtor choose homes for you based off your preferences, ultimately making your home buying process a lot smoother.

If you can’t answer all of those questions above, don’t worry! Your Realtor is there to help. Plus, the internet is a great resource to see examples of what you like or don’t like. Providing your Realtor with pictures and examples of what you’re looking for can be extremely helpful. Even though you don’t want to get your heart set on an unrealistic vision of a home, the more you know going into the selection process, the easier it’ll be.

Enjoy your home buying experience with the Kortney Williams Team! For more information on buying a home, speak with one of our team members today!