Definitive Guide To Buying Your First Home

Definitive Guide To Buying Your First Home

Choosing where to live is almost as important as the type of home you want to live in. While this is a very personal decision, there are pros and cons to every neighborhood. But wherever you want to live, you will have to know where the highways are located, grocery stores, schools, and how far from work you will be. 

Buying a home means more than the structure you will be living in. It is also the community and the accessibility to places and events that mean the most to you and to your family.

Finding The Right Neighborhood



How will you know you have found the right neighborhood? There are many ways to tell:
 You may feel a sense of calm
 The neighborhood may remind you of a happy memory
 You will be close to places you frequent often
 The neighborhood aesthetics are pleasing, or
 The rest of your family is pleased
You may feel one emotion or five when you turn the corner onto the street where you want to live. This will be an exciting time, especially if you have been searching for a home for the past few months.
When looking for the right location, you should consider the following:
 How clean is this neighborhood?
 Is this a high crime area?
 What is the average home value in the neighborhood?
 Are there community bylaws?  What is the home close to?
 Is there garbage pickup?

                                           
Definitive Guide To Buying Your First Home



While these questions may not include everything you are looking for when buying a home, they should be considered carefully as they will affect your life once you move into the home.
How Clean Is This Neighborhood? You should look at the neighborhood at different times during the day to see how those who live in the neighborhood take care of it. If there is a lot of trash on the ground, the yards are not kept up properly, or there are old signs posted on trees and telephone poles, then the neighborhood may not be for you. If the neighborhood looks clean and you see people outside caring for their lawns, then you may have found a community of people who care about where they live. This is an important factor if you are planning on living in the neighborhood for many years. All too often people will buy homes only to discover that they live in a neighborhood where people do not have respect for their property or the property of others. This can make selling the home much more difficult in the future.

Is This A High Crime Area?

While all neighborhoods will experience some crime, you should consider buying a home in an area that has a high crime rate very carefully. While the home itself may be the right price for your budget, it may not be located in an area that is right for your well-being. Drive by the neighborhood at nighttime to see if there is adequate street lighting, suspicious activity, or anything else that might cause you to use caution. Research the neighborhood and find out how the crime rate compares to other neighborhoods. If the crime rate is too high, then it may be best to look somewhere else.

You can find this information out very easily by asking your realtor or by looking up this information at the county clerk’s office or on their web site. You should be aware of the home values that are in your neighborhood for several reasons:

Are There Community Bylaws?
If you are looking at a home that is inside a community, you should be aware of yearly dues, rules about what can be in your yard (pool, lawn decorations, ect.), and any other rules that they may have.
Many people enjoy living in a community because they feel safe and want to meet others in the neighborhood. Communities usually have picnics and other events during the year where neighbors can meet each other. Some communities have pools, tennis courts, and other amenities.



What Is The Home Close To?
When choosing a home, you will need to find the nearest grocery store, schools, route to work, and other necessities that will make living in the neighborhood more convenient. Drive around the neighborhood to see what is around it. This will help make your decision to buy a home in a particular neighborhood much easier.

While this may not seem like something you are interested in, when it comes to disposing of your trash, you may need to haul it to the dump yourself. Ask about trash pickup so that you can decide if this is something you really want to do on the weekend.


City Life vs. Country Living
Choosing the neighborhood you want to live in will also include deciding whether you want to live in the city, country, or suburbs. Many people with families usually want to live in the suburbs because there is more rooms for children to grow, but is still close enough for parents to commute to work.
But there are advantages to city and country living as well. Those who live in the city will be close to work, close to restaurants, activities, and events. Those who live in the country may have a longer commute to work, but they will be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of having fewer people around them. Whichever lifestyle you prefer, you should construct a pros and cons list that will give you a better idea of what to expect when looking for a home.

New Homes vs. Older Homes





Another decision you will have to make is whether to buy a new home or look for an older one.



Most first time home buyers usually buy an older home, but this should not deter you from visiting a few builders to see what they are charging for the size home you are looking for.




Older homes may cost less, but they can be riddled with problems. In this book, you will learn what to look for when viewing a home, what to include in your purchase offer, and what to expect from a home inspection. There are many older homes that will need only minor repairs.


Which Home To Choose?
After you have looked into all of your options, you will be wondering which home to choose. There are many ways to find the home that is right for you. When looking at homes, you should keep these criteria in mind:



While this is a short list, throughout this book you will learn other ways to find your dream home. In the end, you will just know when you have found the right home. Moving into your first home will be an experience you will never forget. You should be excited as this is a little piece of the world that is just yours. Whether this is the home you will live in for a long time or just for a short time, buying a home will give you a sense of pride and of purpose. Not only will you have a mortgage to pay, you will also be responsible for making the home your own. When thinking about purchasing a home, you should begin saving your money for closing costs, repairs, and decorating materials. One of the more rewarding moments will be when you get the keys to your new home and you begin making it your own with a little paint, furniture, and personal style.