6 Steps for Prioritizing What You Need (and want) in a Home.

1. EARN WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD

Getting your finances in order before searching for your home can make all the difference in a competitive market. Determining your budget and how much financial wiggle room you have can help put your must-haves on your househunting checklist more clearly into view.

 

Are you pre-approved for a mortgage? (If you’re not there yet, we can show you how and why to get pre-approved.)

What’s your price range? (Try our affordability calculator if you’re not sure.) How much do you have saved for a down payment?

What about hidden costs like future repairs?

Are you willing to do extra renovations or do you want a turnkey property?

 

Think about whether:

You need space for a future nursery or a home office.

You need any special features for your pets like a fenced-in yard.

Wheelchair access or limited stairs is important to you.

You need a space for a car or is street parking sufficient.

Walkability is important to you

You plan on changing jobs in the next 1-2 year

 

3. PICK YOUR PREFERRED HOME STYLE AND TYPE

Ask yourself these questions (and make sure your answers match up with what you have noted on your house hunting checklist):

How many stories do you want?

Could you live in a historic home?

Do you want to live in a townhouse, condo, or single-family house?

Read about the pros and cons of condos vs single-family homes.

How many bedrooms and bathrooms?

Want a guest room?

What type of flooring do you like?

What architectural styles do you like best?

What’s your favorite room, and what makes spending time there enjoyable?

If you have an outdoor space, do you enjoy spending time there? Do you enjoy taking care of a yard… or feel burdened by it?

 

 

4. CHOOSE A LOCATION

Ask yourself these questions, and then read our guide to choosing a neighborhood for more tips.

Do you prefer urban, suburban, or rural?

What city do you want to live in?

Do you want easy access to highways or public transportation?

How important is the view?

Can you sleep easily with traffic noise?

Do you want to be involved in community activities?

Are there parks within walking or biking distance?

Do the property taxes and/or HOA fees fit your budget?

 

5. GET TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Ask yourself the following:

Are you happy with your neighborhood?

Are there enough activities going on around you — or too many?

Do you feel happy with your commute?

Do you have to travel far for basics such as groceries or a doctor’s appointment?

 

6. DOCUMENT YOUR VISIT

Get a feel for the home and consider anything you may have left off of your list. Remember, paint can be replaced and staged furniture will change, but there are aspects that can’t change so easily:

Is there enough space or too much space?

Where could you use more space?

How would you describe the layout?

Do you like the fixtures and finishes?

Are you happy with the windows (enough natural light, well-placed, too sunny)?

Does the home have curb appeal?

Does the home have adequate parking?