This is the third part of First Time Homebuyers. See part one here and part two here.
Choosing the location of your new home is the most important part of buying your first home. You can change many things about a home, with a contractors help, but the location is permanent.
Things to consider are the size and shape of the lot. The location in the neighborhood; whether it is a busy street or back street. Noise issues aren’t just about traffic, there can also be airports, train stations, intersections, schools, etc. nearby that you need to look for. Choosing a School district is a big issue for people with kids, check out www.greatschools.net if you need to do some research.
Commute time is an important consideration and I don’t mean only your commute to work. What about the grocery store, school, church, friends and family, doctors, and any other place of business you frequent. Remember commute time in rush hour can vastly differ from the weekend or mid day, so check the route at a busy time too.
I like to knock on the neighbors doors to chat if I’m really interested in a certain house. Especially in the city where there is even a huge difference block to block. Most people are happy to answer the question “how do you like the neighborhood.” You never know what the neighbors will tell you about the house you are looking at, it can be valuable information.
In the city parking can be an issue. If you have a car is there ample street parking, permit parking, a garage, or parking pad and which one do you need? If you don’t have a car, where is the nearest bus stop or is there a place to store you bike?
Whether you choose to live in the country , the city, or somewhere in between, make sure you tour around the neighborhood before you put an offer in on a house. You want to love where you live.
Lauren Krady is a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker, the nation's oldest and most trusted brand. She is a member of the Jeff Geoghan Realty Group and serves all of the Lancaster City PA homes market with superior customer service and dedication. Contact Lauren to start your home search in Lancaster City and beyond by calling her at (717) 824-7236.
Comments(1)