Buying a new home should be exciting and fun, especially on the southern California coast! If you aren’t prepared to start looking for a new house, however, the process can quickly become stressful. Before you start your search for a new home, take these things into consideration.
The Amenities You Need
When it comes to home buying, there’s a big difference between the things you desire and the things you actually need. If you get these two things confused, you could find yourself living in a house that doesn’t have enough closet space but does have a sleek fireplace with a cool mantle.
To make sure your new home has everything your family needs to function on a daily basis, you should make two lists before you even start looking at, say, Del Mar real estate — one with all your family’s necessary amenities and one with amenities you’d like to have “if possible.” Some things to consider include:
- Room size
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms
- Storage space
- Kitchen appliances
- Central air
Ideally, you want to choose a house that has enough space for everyone in your family to live comfortably and store all of their stuff. Additional amenities, such as affordable home security devices, swimming pools, and top-of-the-line appliances, are things you can compromise on if necessary.
Location Is More Important Than You Probably Think
Sure, you know it’s a good idea to choose a house in a good school district or a relatively crime-free area, but selecting the right location for your home is way more important than that. For example, you might be fantasizing about owning a beautiful two-story home on a nice piece of land, but the further away from the city you live, the longer you have to drive to run errands, shop for groceries, and take the kids to the doctor — and do you really want to deal with a 30-minute drive every single time you run out of milk?
In addition to taking neighborhood demographics into consideration, you need to think about:
- Your work commute
- The distance to doctor’s and dentist’s offices
- How far away the closest grocery store or gas station is located
While long-distance commutes may seem doable at first, they can become stressful once they become your everyday reality on a long-term basis. Most people are happier if they choose a home in an area that’s convenient to their current lifestyle.
Start by Touring Cheaper Properties
When you’re house hunting, the big, beautiful homes can blow you away fast. Before you know it, you’ll be reconsidering your plans and choosing a home that’s larger and more fully loaded when it isn’t really the best option for your family. Remember, you have to pay for all that extra space.
To avoid overspending, start by looking at homes on the lower end of your budget and work your way up. If you start by touring homes at the high end of your budget, it can cloud your judgement and it ends up being a lot harder to be impressed with lower-priced options.
Take Your Future Plans Into Consideration
Of course, it’s important to consider your current lifestyle, but your plans for the future are equally important. For example, if you don’t plan to stick with your current job until you retire, purchasing a home that’s close to work doesn’t matter as much. Or, if you aren’t planning to have any more kids, you probably don’t need a house with room to grow.
Ideally, you should choose a home that will satisfy your family’s current needs and that you can see yourself being happy long-term. Buying a house is a big commitment, but if you choose wisely, it’s a great investment.
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