Although buying a home can be exciting, it can also be intimidating at the same time. Because buying a home is one of the most significant purchase decisions that people make in life, it is necessary to consider certain important factors before you decide on a suitable home. Here are 5 key factors that you will want to consider when searching for and making an offer to buy a home.
1. Property Taxes
When buying property, it is important to know how much you will pay in property taxes. Knowing about property taxes is important for budgeting purposes. You want to avoid a situation whereby, after you have found a suitable home and you are ready to put in an offer, you realize that if you buy that house, you will end up spending way more than what you normally spend each year in taxes. Property taxes are calculated based on the property's value, and can be higher or lower depending on the level of property taxes in the area where the house is located.
2. The Neighborhood
Another important factor to consider when deciding where to set down your roots is the neighborhood that you want. For instance, if you are a young couple and prefer living in a neighborhood with other young families and small children, consider that fact. Or maybe you like the idea of living in the city because you will be close to your workplace and shopping and nightlife.
Because a house is a large purchase, make sure that you choose a neighborhood that meets most, if not all, of your requirements. You can even drive around potential neighborhoods to see for yourself what it will be like living in that area. Alternatively, you can ask around as you carry out your research. If you have kids, you can even drive to a potential area around school closing hours just to see what it's like after schools close.
3. Job Market
One of the important questions that you need to ask when purchasing a home is will you be able to find a job where you're planning to buy a home. This is an important factor to consider, especially if you are already working in a location farther away from where you're considering buying a house. It's necessary to find out what the current job market is like in the new location, as well as the surrounding areas that are within driving distance.
Familiarizing yourself with the job market will also give you a rough idea of whether your property taxes will increase with time. Moving to a neighborhood where most people like to live is good for property value. However, you may have to pay more to stay there.
4. School District
If you have school-going kids or you intend to have children soon, you'll want to find out as much as possible about the local schools that your children will be attending. How are the schools rated academic-wise? Are the schools reasonably close to the house you are planning to buy? What extracurricular events are offered at these schools? It is important to ask all these questions because the answer to the questions will help you determine whether it's the place you want your children to grow up in. Education is key, so you want to make sure that your children go to excellent schools.
5. Homeowners Association (HOA)
A Homeowners Association (HOA) is a group of individuals in a neighborhood who work together with the goal of enforcing rules set for the neighborhood. If you are moving to that neighborhood, expect to pay dues that go toward the maintenance or upkeep of that area. So, find out if the neighborhood you are considering has an active HOA and related covenants. Also, find out how much you will be required to pay in terms of yearly dues and what the precise rules are for homeowners.
Buying a home can be overwhelming, especially if you are a first-time buyer. But even though a lot is involved in buying a home, the process can be a lot easier if you consider these five factors before deciding on a suitable home.
About Main Line Homes
At www.mainlinehomes.com, we love working with home buyers! Whether you are a first-time home buyer who is looking for guidance through a sometimes complicated and confusing process, or someone who has bought and sold real estate multiple times in the past, we will take the time to listen to you, understand your needs, and help you achieve your goals. We leverage the latest industry technologies to enable up-to-the-minute tracking of market listings, enabling our clients access to newly listed homes as soon as they hit the market. Janis Peterson is an accredited Buyer Agent, and Buyer Agent representation is available. Janis Peterson has been helping Main Line home Buyers since 1994. Areas in which she specializes include Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester County, PA, Pennsylvania. Contact Janis at Tel: 610-642-3744 or e-mail her at janis@mainlinehomes.com. Let Janis help you find your new home!
Janis Peterson, REALTOR®, GRI, ABR, SRES, CSP
Main Line Homes Luxury Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Main Line
Suburban Square
6 Coulter Ave
Ardmore, PA 19003
Direct: (610) 642-3744
www.mainlinehomes.com
Janis@mainlinehomes.com
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