Guide For First Time Home Buyers - Step 4

Step 4: Determine what you want in a home

It's all starting to come together. After meeting with your lender, you know what you can afford, you've been pre-approved for a loan, and now you can decide what you want.

A great way to organize your home buying process is to separate your wants and needs.

Examples of needs:

-What style home? Condominium, townhouses, single-family home, etc...

-How many bedrooms?

-How many bathrooms?

-Proximity to schools: Do you need to be close to a school or are children not in your near future?

-Two-car garage? Three-car garage?

-RV gate?

-Handicapped accesibility or accomodations?

Examples of wants:

-Pool? Jacuzzi?

-One-story or two-story?

-Proximity to neighbors?

-Size of backyard

-Stainless steel appliances? White appliances?

-Walk-in closets?

-Wood floors? Tile? Carpet?

-Built in entertainment center, microwave, bookshelves, etc...?

-Fireplace?

These wants and needs vary depending on the person, but this is just an idea of what to consider.

Terms to know:

Condominium: A form of ownership in which an individual purchases and owns a unit of housing in a
multiunit complex while sharing financial responsibility for common areas.

Townhouse: A modern two- or three-story house built as one of a group of similar houses

Single-family home: A type of house, usually detached, owned by one person or family, including the land upon which it sits. (This is the most common in Arizona)

Once you've decided your needs and wants, you are now ready to meet with your REALTOR, share those needs and wants, and get started on finding the perfect home for you!

My advice: Think ahead. Consider how long you may stay in the house. If it's going to be awhile, plan ahead for what those needs vs wants may be in the future, as well.

If you missed the first post on step 1 of the first time home buyer process:

Guide For First Time Home Buyers - Step 1 

Guide for First Time Home Buyers - Step 2

Guide for First Time Home Buyers - Step 3

Guide For First Time Home Buyers - Step 4