Choosing a Tigard Home

Choosing a Tigard Home

When you're in the market for buying a home in Tigard, it's wise to have an idea of what you need in your new home. Buying a Tigard home is pretty much like buying real estate anywhere else. There are many homes for sale in Tigard and the home buying process can soon become overwhelming, but with a little pre-planning you can lessen your fears and doubts and obtain the Tigard home that's best suited for you. Do not enter the market unprepared. I am happy to provide you with any information or advice that you may need.

Buying your own home is one of the smartest financial decisions you will ever make.  It is the foundation for building personal wealth. It also emotionally satisfying. It is a symbol of starting a new chapter in your life.

Before deciding which home to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. Know how much of a loan you qualify for and how much you can afford to pay for house payments.

What factors are important to your specific needs?

First-time Tigard home buyers should not be thinking of buying a perfect home. Unless you have lots of money and good credit, this is an impractical approach. Think of finding a good home that has 80% of what you want and one that has potential for appreciation and may be under priced. Then trade up in 4 or 5 years, after you have built up equity, to a home that is closer to your ideal choice.

Start making a list. Do you know what you really want and need in your new Tigard home? You'll save yourself many hours of looking at homes if you make a list ahead of time. Start compiling your wish list by thinking what you like and dislike about your present home. Zero in on the features you must have and the ones you definitely don't want. Then add ones that would be nice to have. The goal is to find the right home in Tigard for yourself or your family and to avoid the one you "just have to have" that may not meet your needs or is more than you can comfortably afford.

When creating your wish list, take a look at your lifestyle. Think about your unique needs and what it will take to satisfy them.

• How many children do you have and plan to have?
• If you love to cook, you will need a well-equipped kitchen.
• If you love to garden, you will need a large yard.
• If you build and fix things, you will need space for your workshop.
• You may need an extra room for a library or home office.
• Do you have a boat, an extra car and RV?  You will need a place to park them.

Think about the floor plan. You need a livable home.

• Is the kitchen large enough? Would you be happier with an eat-in kitchen?
• Do you need a separate formal dining room?
• How many bedrooms and baths do you need? Do you need a guest bedroom? Are the rooms large enough?
• What style of home do you want?

As you think about your housing needs, it's important to consider how long you may live in your new home. This is important to the type of mortgage you select and the size and location of your home purchase.

• If you are newly married you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but may be concerned in a few years. Will you move then or are there good schools there now?
• If you have aging parents, might they need to live with you in the near future? If so, you may need to look at homes that offer living arrangement for them also. In such situations, the distance from your home to the hospital or their doctor is important.
• If you have to move often because of your job, how easy will this house be to resell?

You need to think about the home's location just as carefully as you do about the houses physical features. You don't just live in the house, you also live in the neighborhood. Identify what kinds of communities and neighborhoods in Tigard that are right for you. What kind of factors will affect your quality of life? Obvious ones come to mind.

• How far will you have to drive to work from Tigard?
• Do you need senior services and public transportation?
• What is the crime rate in the area?
• Will your new home be next to a vacant lot or commercial property or a freeway?
• What are your neighbors like?

You need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, day care, traffic and parking, recreational facilities and other community amenities. Chat with the neighbors to see what they think of the area.

Drive or walk around neighborhoods you are interested in. Talk to people who live and work in the community you are considering. Surf the Web. Learn the pluses and minuses of the area. Even a picture-perfect dream home can be a mistake if it is in an undesirable location, and a poor location can be a particularly bad choice if you expect to sell within a few years.

Do you prefer a new home or an older home? If you have the time and money to invest in fixing up a home, you may want to buy an older home that needs some work. Or remodel a home that is close to your needs. If you don't, you may want to buy an older home with all the renovations complete, or a new home that offers energy-efficient systems and modern materials.

I hope this helps you determine what is really important to you when you make your Tigard home purchase decision. It's a difficult decision for everyone, but the rewards for owning your own home are great.

These and many more questions need to be answered. Please read Tips For First Time Home Buyers  for other issues to consider when choosing a Tigard home.

Wayne B. Pruner is a Realtor® at Oregon First, in the City of Tigard, Oregon . I am ready to help you choose your Tigard home. I am knowledgeable and experienced and I can save you money. There will be no sales pressure.  My phone number is 503-891-0795. My email is waynepruner@oregonfirst.com.