Things I Wish My Realtor Had Told Me Part 3

-

Now it is time for me to weigh in on how to choose the "right" home for you and your family.  When I am advising my own clients, here are some ?s and thoughts that I share:

Will this home work for you for the foreseeable future?  Does it have the space you need now, but also ample space for the next 5 years?  (In the past, the average family moved every 3-5 years.  Now that span has increased to every 5-8 years.)

Does the monthly payment fit into your budget?  Will you still have the ability to eat out occasionally and go to movies?  Will you lose sleep over the payment?  In other words, does it feel comfortable to you?

Does the school district fit your family's needs?  Think ahead beyond elementary school to middle school, junior high and even high school?

Finally,  is the home in an area that would resale well if you are relocated?  Hopefully this will be your home for a very long time.  In the event, you are offered an amazing job opportunity, you want to be in the position to sell your home.  Having a desirable location makes a huge difference in time on the market.

What are your thoughts?  Are there other key criteria that are not mentioned here?  Feel free to weigh in by leaving a comment.

Comments

  1. Susan4:35 PM

    I'm so glad that looked into school districts ahead of time. We built our house in 2006 when my oldest was only 15 months old. Now I have three kids, we still have 38 lots that do not have homes and I have a feeling (like it or not) we'll be here for a few more years. Thankfully we're in a good district!

    Great advice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Diane Brooks8:43 AM

    Hi Susan, thanks for your comment. A great school district is a great way to keep your home at the top of many people's lists. Even if a buyer doesn't have children, the reputation of the school system is valuable information affecting their resale capacity.

    Kudos to you for choosing wisely.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Real Estate Abbreviations and Acronyms

-
Look at any home ad and you're bound to be confused by all the letters and abbreviations. To help you "speak" real estate, here are some of the more common abbreviations and acronyms and what they stand for: Home details: 2C-A—two-car attached garage 2C-D—two-car detached garage AC—acres ALARM-B—burglar alarm ALARM-F—fire alarm ALARM-S—smoke alarm Appl—appliances ASSG—assigned parking BSMT, B—basement BLDG SPEC—builder's spec home BONUS—bonus room BR—bedroom BRK—brick Bth, BA—bathroom CA—central air CLBPOOL—club pool Dk—deck FDR—formal dining room FP, frpl—fireplace Gar—garage Grmet Kit—gourmet kitchen HWF, HDW—hardwood floors IG pool—in-ground pool Ldscpd—landscaped LP—list price LR—living room MLS—multiple listing service OBO—or best offer SFD—single-family detached home WIC—walk-in closet YO—years old Transaction details: APR—annual percentage rate ARM—adjustable rate mortgage CC&R—covenants, conditions and restrictions CMA—comparative market analysis DAP—down ...
Read more

Bring Some Light to Your World--Exciting Lamp Giveaway!

-
Image
When it comes to lighting your home, it is important to use a combination of different lighting sources to create the right environment. Relying simply on overhead lighting can leave the lighting in your home either too dark or too harsh. Poor lighting can only take away from the aesthetic beauty of your home and it is vital that you strike the proper balance. By incorporating table lamps into your home décor, you can add a wonderful accent to any room which will help create that warming glow you need. In terms of lighting manufacturers there are 3 brands in particular that shine brighter than the rest. Uttermost is a family owned lighting company that has been a providing the world with beautifully handcrafted designer lighting and home décor since 1975. Their table lamps in particular are offered in a range of styles by top designers such as Carolyn Kinder, while still remaining an affordable lighting option for the common man. The Southwestern Xander Table Lamp in particular was d...
Read more

10 Ways To Winterize Your Home

-
Image
10 ways to winterize your home — now You’ll get a season’s worth of savings and peace of mind by taking a few steps in the fall to get your home ready for cold weather. By Christopher Solomon of MSN Real Estate So you’ve pulled your sweaters out of mothballs and found your mittens at the bottom of the coat closet. But what about your house — is it prepared for the cold months ahead? You’ll be a lot less comfortable in the coming months if you haven’t girded Home Sweet Home for Old Man Winter. With the help of several experts, we’ve boiled down your autumn to-do list to 10 easy tips: 1. Clean those gutters Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters — by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse — so that winter’s rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house, the Insurance Information Institute says. As you’re hosing o...
Read more