Real Estate Investment 101: Getting Started

Tips For Choosing A New Home When You Want A Place That's Ideal For Your Kids

Buying a new home is both stressful and exciting. There are so many possibilities that it can be difficult to settle on a home you love. However, if you take some important factors into mind, it can be easier to narrow down your choices. For instance, if you have kids then you'll want a home that is ideal for family life. Here are some things to think about when you start looking at single family homes for sale.

The Neighborhood 

While safety and a low crime rate are very important when you choose a neighborhood, you also want to know about the type of people living there. It's nice to move into a neighborhood of families with kids near the ages of your kids so they will have friends that live close by. If you move into a neighborhood with mostly older people, your kids may have to travel for play dates and they might make too much noise or be too rowdy for older neighbors.

The School District

Unless your kids will go to a private school, then you'll want to make sure you buy a home that's zoned for excellent schools. If you are moving to a brand new city, you probably won't know anything about the school system. Talk to your real estate agent and some locals for recommendations of good schools. Research school ratings and crime rates near the schools to judge the safety of your kids' zoned schools. Even if you move near a good school, your child may be bused to a different school. That's why you need to find out what school zone your future home is in before you buy it.

Size Of The House

A home with fewer bedrooms costs less, but don't forget to factor in house guests, the possibility of parents or in-laws moving in, and the chance of having a new baby. You may want to buy a home with an extra bedroom or bonus room even if you don't think you need that much room right now. Consider how long you plan to live in the home. If you want it to be your family home for decades to come, you'll want plenty of room as the size of your family changes. You may at least want a home that can be modified with a building addition or second level. If you think adding to the home could be a possibility, check local codes and ordinances to make sure that will be allowed.

While it is important to buy a new home with thoughts of a growing family in mind, you also want a home that has many of the features you like. Since a home is a huge investment, you want a place you'll be proud of and where you'll love coming home to for years into the future.


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