Most people, I know, start their home search by looking for homes on the internet. I’d say, that's fine to get an idea of what is out there. But once you have a general idea of what to expect, you should stop focusing on the home. What?
Make sure that you complete these 2 crucial steps first:
- Choose a community
- Choose a neighborhood
- THEN, choose a home
Once you find your community and neighborhood/s, then you are ready to start looking for a home you’ll love.
Here’s what you should keep in mind when buying a home in Central Florida:
Know your “Haves”
Remember that list you made when you first started your communities search? Go get it.
Take a look at it again. Add the home features you are looking for. This list will help you keep your priorities straight.
Write down your “haves”: must-haves, would-like-to-haves, and can’t-deal-withs.
During your search remember that Real Estate in Central Florida, and anywhere else, will most likely require compromises. You should, however, be able to find a home you’ll love.
Brand spanking new or older construction?
New construction homes provide a contemporary look, more energy efficiency, and less maintenance. However, buying an older home in Central Florida might give you all of the character and charm you always wanted.
Looks are important, but you need to consider everything owning a new and older home entails.
How many rooms do you need?
Will you need a guest room, an office, a craft room, or a playroom? Is there a bathroom hog in your household?
Recognize your current needs, but also account for future life changes.
How big should your home be?
Some people love massive rooms, others prefer more cozy ones. Your friends will have different opinions on how big or small a home should be. Listen and learn from other people’s experiences, but ultimately you have to determine what is right for YOU!
Beyond the walls
Do you want a home with a yard or a nice view? Do you have pets or kids? Will they need a yard to play in, or would you rather just use community parks?
A large yard can a be a “must-have” for some or a “can’t-deal-with” for others. Before you decide to go with the yard, check how much it would cost to hire someone to do the work for you, or estimate how much of your time you will need to spend working on it.
Pool or no pool
Hey, it’s Florida and you need a pool, right?! Maybe not. Pools can be a lot of fun, but they can also be expensive and labor intensive. Research how much it really costs to own a pool before you buy a .
A community pool can be a great option for those who would love to have a pool, but don’t want to worry about maintenance.
Fixer upper vs move-in-ready
You can customize a fixer upper to all of your very specific needs or wants. But before you embark on this journey, make sure you know what a renovation entails, and how much it would cost.
Bring in a contractor to give you an estimate of the job. And be prepared to deal and pay for the unexpected. Things can happen along the way and it is always better to be prepared.
On the other hand, the move-in-ready home may have less features than you would like, but it won’t require big renovations.
I found my home, what should I do next?
Work with your Realtor on an offer strategy that makes sense for your finances and is reasonable for the home.
In addition, try to not get emotionally attached to a home until it is yours. There are many things that can happen during the home buying process, and sometimes you may not get the home you originally wanted.
And don’t sweat it if you don’t get the home you wanted originally. It wasn’t meant to be and maybe a better home is coming your way!
I bought my next home! Now, what?
Celebrate!
What are you looking for in your next home? Let us know in the comments below!
