What to Look for in a Home

We’re coming up on the busiest time of year for buying and selling homes. If you’re planning to move, do you know what to look for in a new or existing home? Aside from the more obvious things like enough bedrooms and bathroom to accommodate your family, the right size yard and adequate storage space, there is a lot to consider before signing on the dotted line.


Home Values
You definitely want to be sure the sale price of the home is in line with the appraised home value. Becky Bochniak, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Apex says, “The neighborhood can be just as important, if not more, than the property itself when determining the home’s worth.” Is the house in a desirable neighborhood? Are the other houses and yards well maintained? Does the neighborhood have an active and effective home owners association to keep the community attractive and organize activities? Is there a park or common area for kids and families to gather and play? These types of community elements increase home values considerably.


Proximity
Is the home within a reasonable distance to your place of employment, retail centers, grocery stores, medical facilities, etc.? What is the quality of schools your children will attend? Websites like greatschools.org and Trulia have information on schools in all areas of the country and include parent reviews. Trulia also provides valuable community information. Just type in the city name or zip code to search for the information you need.


Taxes
What is the property tax rate in the area where you are looking to buy? How will that affect your monthly mortgage payment and what will you get for the taxes you pay? Are there enough businesses in the area to keep your property taxes down?


Utilities
Does the home you’re considering operate on gas, propane, electricity, or a combination of these? How will that affect your utility bills? What is the water quality in the area? Will you need to install a water softener to improve water quality? Can you choose your electric company or is it city run? Does your municipality offer recycling services?


In addition to researching online, ask a real estate agent to answer these questions. Drive through the neighborhood in the evenings when people are home from work. Are they out talking to each other, or does the neighborhood resemble a ghost town? Are there kids for your kids to play with? Introduce yourself to your new potential neighbors and ask them questions. Arm yourself with the information you need before you make what could be one of the biggest purchasing decisions of your life.