A Few Tricks (and Treats) to Finding the Right Home to Buy

Price

            You want to make sure what you are buying is realistically within your budget. Don’t just look at the money you are approved for, do some number crunching and see how much you can actually afford to buy. 78% of buyers today believe that their home is a good investment. Your money is going into a house, and its something you can see and feel, unlike other investments you can make. Make sure you are putting a realistic amount of money towards this investment, and that when you decide to buy, you are confident its something you can financially handle, keeping your investment safe.

Condition

            Some homes can be a great value if there are repairs needed. However, this doesn’t mean that this is necessarily the right choice for you. If you’re not the kind of person that can handle smaller repairs yourself, large repairs on your newly bought home may not be ideal for you. You can, of course, hire someone to do these repairs for you, but keep that in mind when budgeting for your house.

            On the other hand, if you fancy yourself a budding handyman (or woman), some simple repairs may be right up your alley. This means you can be less concerned with smaller repairs, like the wallpaper that needs to come down, the stuck sliding windows, or the room that would be perfect if only it had a ceiling fan to cool you off. Be realistic with what repairs you can do yourself, figure out easily, or hire someone to do for you.

Size

            In the case of finding the home to best fit your needs, bigger is not always better. Try to get enough space to live comfortably, but not so much that you won’t use it.  A big yard may seem like a perk, but if you aren’t outside much, mowing the lawn and dealing with winter snowfall might seem like a hassle with few rewards. Having 3 spare bedrooms for guests may be practical, but if you aren’t going to have the guests to use them, you may find you have a large upstairs to heat, just for the master bedroom to get warm. Know what your needs are going in, and judge size from there.

           

Layout

            If you plan to make your house the place-to-be for holidays and parties, you will want a more open space that allows for communication throughout several rooms. If you have 3 kids that just can’t get enough privacy from each other, perhaps you want something with a lot of separation between living spaces. Are the two bedrooms in the house on different floors? This may not be the best for tending to young children during the night.

            When looking at homes, keep in mind how you will be using the space.  Find a home where the movement suits you or your family’s movement.  If you find yourself thinking something like “why would they put that room there?” think about if the layout you are looking at would really be the best one for you. Note locations of the rooms and number of stories, along with more obvious considerations like number of bedrooms or bathrooms.

Location

            Some big considerations to take into account when looking at location are:

·      What attractions, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment is nearby

·      School districts for buyers with kids

·      Driving time to and from work

·      What kind of community you want (suburban, urban, rural)

·      Quality of the neighborhood

Some Facts about location from 2011 buyers:

·      Quality of the neighborhood was the biggest factor influencing buyers’ choice of location.

·      The median distance from work buyers bought houses was only 12 miles.

·      73% of buyers said transportation costs were a consideration.

Street Noise

            Look at the street that your potential house is on. Does it have a lot of traffic going by all day? This may mean you can hear it inside the house. Keep that in mind when you head inside. Even then, when windows are open in the hotter months, the noise will be something you have to deal with. If you think it will bother you, this doesn’t mean you have to change location, simply look at where the living spaces are in relation to the noise. If they are farthest from the street, it may not bother you at all.

Should You Buy a New Home or an Old One?

If you're thinking about purchasing a home, an important factor to consider is whether you're interested in a new construction or an older home. It's easy to overlook a few of the components that really set newly-built homes apart from their previously constructed counterparts. Look below for a  few of the pros and cons of each option.

New Homes

The Pros:

• Incentives: Many new homes come with a variety of incentives designed to appeal to potential buyers. Developers want a subdivision that's full, not a half empty one with For Sale signs set up on every third lot, which is why they offer a variety of perks to steer you in their direction. Incentives might include lower sales prices, extra features such as customized kitchens or money back at closing options.
• It's New: Well this is obvious, but there's something to be said for moving into a home that is untouched. It's free of the history, decor and stale remnants of its previous family or families. You get a virtual blank slate upon which to create the home that suits your specific tastes and styles. Newer homes also tend to be more modern and designed to fit current needs rather than those of the past.
• Fewer Repairs: Generally new homes will have fewer repairs and those repairs will costs less. From major stuff like electric that's up to code to new appliances, repairs in newer homes simply tend to happen less. 
• Young Community: This doesn't necessarily apply to age, though it can. Ultimately subdivisions with new homes means you get to be part of the community from the ground up. Everyone is in the same boat having purchased a new home in your community so making friends and organizing social gatherings may happen easier than approaching your neighbors in a community that's existed for fifty years.

The Cons:

• Higher Prices: New homes can get pricey especially if they're in desirable areas. Since everything has been purchased new, such as appliances, and a range of contractors performed services from plumbers to carpenters, costs can get rather steep.
• Location: Most cities and areas close to businesses saw homes built around them decades ago. Thus you may find if you buy a new home, you're commuting twenty or thirty minutes to work everyday. Choosing a new home often means living further out in the country, which can also mean higher taxes because the city pays more for water, sewer and other utilities. 
• Less Room to Roam: Many newer communities are divided into smaller lots, therefore, smaller yards or lawns. This can be nice for the mower in the family, but it can be a pain if you have kids and pets who want space to play outdoors.
• Bad Construction: Since a new home hasn't stood the test of time, you're walking in blind in terms of construction durability. Check the builder's track record and make sure that other homes he's built previously are still in good shape. 

Older Homes

Pros:

• Great Deal: The last several years have seen a definite spike in homes for sale, which bodes well for the buyer's market. Many people own their homes outright and may offer land contract financing or a lower price to sell a house that they no longer want.
• Charm: Many people love the character that is rarely found in newly built homes. From original hardwood floors to elaborate crown molding, many older homes are reminiscent of the era in which they were built.
• Established Area: When you buy an older home, you move into an existing community. Often these communities sprang up for a reason such as nearby schools, churches or parks. 

Cons:

• Maintenance and Repairs: Older homes have older appliances, furnaces and whole-house systems. When you buy a home, you may not be aware of certain issues such as a basement that floods every year or a section of the roof that is in poor condition. Home inspections can catch some of these potential repairs, but many will be overlooked, so it's a good idea to buy the home knowing that some maintenance may be necessary.
• Higher Utility Costs: Older homes are often less energy efficient because they use older appliances, may have poor insulation and drafty windows. Utility costs can get very high, especially if you live in a state such as Michigan with long, cold winters.
• Ghosts of the Past: Probably no literal ghosts, though you never can tell, but definitely you will see aspects of the home's previous inhabitants reflected in the home's design, wallpaper and decor. Plan to spend some time eradicating the old touches to make the home your own.

Whether you're in the market for a newly built home or an older house, I can help you find the perfect property for your needs. As an East Lansing realtor, I specialize in the purchase and sale of Lansing area homes. Please contact me today at MyRealtorRob.