6 Finding Your Perfect House

With the real estate market pumping out numbers that are at an all-time low, you may be finding that it's time to start house hunting. Now, before you start hunting for that perfect house, there are a few things that you should know before signing that offer sheet. To make your house hunting process a little easier, here are some things to keep in mind:
 
Room to Grow

For starters, let's take a glance into your future. What do you plan on doing? Do you plan on having children? Do you have a family set in stone now? The reason you will want to know
this is because things chance. A family of five probably won't fit comfortably in a condo that is only 800 square feet. With that being said, make sure that your home allows room for growth. If you do plan on moving in the future, just make sure that the home will gain value as the years go along. Most of this analysis can be done by a professional real estate agent.

What you Want

The future can't be read, and we all understand that. Right now, what you will want to note are the amenities, the ideal size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and anything else that you want in a home. Remember, while you have a list that is a mile long, it doesn't mean that you will find this home. Unless you're purchasing new, there's a good chance that you will have to leave out a few things. Try to focus on the most important things such as:

- The number of bedrooms, bathrooms and location.

- The amount of storage available.

- The size of the living room and kitchen. Most of the time, the size is very hard to change.

- How many windows? Does it draw in a lot of natural light?

- What is the ideal floor plan? Where would you like everything?

Other than that, just about everything else like the landscaping and interior can be changed. When hunting, though, you may want to look for the following:

- At least three bedrooms. Homes with more than three bedrooms tend to fare better in a down economy. Try to steer clear from massive homes with more than six bedrooms.

- Try to buy a home with at least two bathrooms. Like the bedrooms, homes with more than one bathroom tend to be better in terms of resale value.

- As for square footage, it's best to buy a home that is at least 1,000 square feet or more. This is a great average for the resale value down the road.

Research the Location

There is one thing that you can't change with your house hunting - the location. Sure, while you can add additions, replace the countertops and install appliances, you're going to be stuck with the location that is handed to you.

With that being said, it's very important to set aside some time to research the area.

- How are the schools?

- What is the crime like?

- What is the neighborhood like?

- Are there are a lot of jobs available nearby? You never know if you lose or change jobs in the future.

If you're unsure of the area, try to talk with the local police station, neighbors and your real estate agent. The Internet is a great place to research statistics too. If doing so, just make sure that the information is coming from a reputable source.

Curb Appeal

Homes will widely vary with their lot size. Take a quick glance at the life you're living now. Do you want to mow 10 acres, or are you happy with a small half-acre lot? Take a look at the maintenance required for the home. A brick home will be a lot easier to maintain than a home made of wood.

As you can see, there are so many things to look out for. When you do find a dream home, it's best to have your financing in order. In fact, if you can, it's best to get pre-approved. That way, you can have the money readily available when you throw an offer out there.