5 Things to Look for When Buying a Single Family Home

When searching for the ideal home, most people aren’t sure exactly what to look for as they go to viewings, with or without a realtor. If you’re not sure exactly what will suit your busy family, then house hunting will seem daunting. To make the process easier on your family, consider these five things at each open house or a private showing. Buying a single family home is less overwhelming when you know what to look for in a property.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, and I have been monetarily compensated for the collaboration. I have had the final say in all wording and stand behind the quality of the written content.

1. Plan for the Future

When looking for a single family home, you need to consider your future family needs. For instance, if you are considering living downtown in San Fran, check if there are any good schools nearby. If you are not thinking about changing your family’s size anytime soon or if you only plan to be in the next house for a year or two, choose a house that fits your current needs.

However, if you want to have kids soon, then keep in mind your future family. Look for a property with enough bedrooms and bathrooms for one or two kids, depending on how many you envision. This way, the house will be big enough to accommodate the needs of those who live there for many years.

Of course, a big single family home can be costly, so set the max figure you’re willing to pay before viewing properties in person. A mortgage consultant can help you work through the numbers regarding how much you qualify for when buying a house.

Only invest in a bigger home if you have some wiggle room in your budget. If you can afford it, luxury apartments might be what you choose for your residence, such as those you can find at https://www.thehenrydenver.com.

2. Location

If you already have a family or plan to have kids soon, it’s important to buy a house in a child-friendly area. When considering buying a single family home, factors to consider about the neighborhood are:

• Whether there is a school close by
• If other families with kids around the same age as yours live in the area
• Are parks nearby or other age-appropriate places to entertain your kids?
• Whether the streets have sidewalks

Ask yourself, does the area fit what you are currently looking for? In other words, is it right for you and your loved ones?

Location is a BIG factor to consider when buying a single family home. Why? Because you can renovate the interior and exterior of a residence, but you can’t change the location.

Perhaps you are considering putting your roots down in Nashville. If this isn’t an area that you are familiar with, it can be difficult to decide which suburb is the best for your family. Is it a family-friendly area? If you want a comparison of the five best Nashville suburbs, get it from here. Seeing the areas side by side on the same resource page can help you decide quickly which one to look at further before moving.

If there are nearby playgrounds and schools, visit them to see what they’re like. When looking at houses, also meet neighbors and speak to them, if possible. They can tell you a lot about an area, such as whether there’s a lot of road traffic. Make sure that you also consider the distance between your house and amenities. Where are the nearest grocery store and shopping mall?

3. Weigh Your Options

Young children love to play and can be drawn to the garden now or as they get older. So, consider a single family home with a garden to give your kids more options for outdoor activities. Think about the learning opportunities for kids in a flower or vegetable garden. Gardening is also a great bonding activity with your kids.

If a home is ideal for your needs but has a small garden, it might not be right for you. Alternatively, you could expand the garden – my parents did that! We grew vegetables in our backyard when I was a girl. We had fresh lettuce, green beans, and carrots.

However, don’t break the bank to get a house with a garden. If the area has a local park, you might decide to compromise on the garden. Maybe you buy a house with no garden or with a small garden and then let your kids play in the local park regularly.

4. Safety

The ideal is probably buying a single family home in an area with very low crime rates. If you can afford it, you might even choose a gated community with a security guard. These apartments and housing units do not allow strangers to get in without identification. Also, make sure you choose a house with plenty of exterior lighting.

If the house checks all the other boxes than outside lighting, though, you can always move into a house and then install exterior lighting fixtures such as copper lanterns by Lantern & Scroll. If you are buying a single family home instead of renting one, install as many safety measures as possible to help keep your loved ones safe. Great examples are:

• Lights
• Security alarms
• Cameras

Do your research before making the move to find out more about the neighborhood as part of assessing its safety. That way, you know what to expect before buying the home. Thankfully, there are apps online to help you find safety info and crime stats for several areas. It can also be helpful to talk with those who already live in the neighborhood.

5. Schools

Lastly, consider the distance between the school you want to send your children to and your potential home. Just remember that proximity to a good school often increases house prices.

For this reason, consider living a few blocks away from the school for a more affordable residence. In this case, also look into the length of the commute and consider how your children will get to on time, as well as how easy it is to go to and from school.

Living close to a school can also save money on gas and save you time on the road. Plus, if the kids forgot something at home, it’s not a long way to go back to get it!

Concluding Words on Buying a Single Family Home

Consider these five factors to help you find the ideal home for your family. If you are fairly handy and up for a challenge, there’s plenty you can do to take a house from having great potential to be your dream residence. If there are renovation projects that you feel are beyond your expertise, hire contractors that are highly recommended by family and friends for providing quality results at decent prices.

Do you need additional help choosing a house? If so, consider hiring a real estate agent familiar with the local area. They can sometimes help you find properties that might not be publicly available for viewing to people without a realtor, as well as hearing about houses for sale before they’re listed.

 

Top photo via Pixabay