These days, not everyone can afford to purchase a ‘good enough for now’ starter home with the intention to upgrade in a couple of years or so. You never know if you’ll have the money to purchase a second home or what the market will be like in the near future, so it’s best to buy a house that you can hold on to for a while. Here are some qualities you should look for in a starter home.
A great selling price
The biggest concern that first-time home buyers have is the down payment and other money-related aspects of purchasing a property. This is what makes choosing a home with the right price an incredibly important step. Remember to only consider homes within your budget so you’re sure you can afford the monthly payments.
A future
A house today should be able to last you at least 10 years, so keep the future in mind when choosing homes for sale. Ask yourself questions like “Are kids in my immediate future?” or “Can I retire here?” This will give you an idea of how big a house you need to buy or the features that will make living there very convenient.
An ideal location
One of the things that make a house a keeper is not even in the house itself but where it’s located, because it will not only play a part in how convenient it would be to live there but also how valuable your home will be in the future. A safe and stable neighborhood, as well as proximity to major establishments, are things that you should look for when considering a home based on its area.
Proper maintenance and repair
If you’re targeting pre-owned homes, you should expect these properties to no longer be in mint condition, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a fixer-upper. It would be better to purchase a home that’s been maintained properly to make sure that you won’t be paying for expensive repair costs anytime soon.
Certain upgrades
Again, you may not have to expect a previously owned home to be flawless, but it would be nice to look for homes for sale that have been updated in areas that matter. Search for properties with recent installations like a new roof or updated electrical wiring. These will save you money on doing them yourself later on, and guarantee you that you won’t be experiencing problems in these areas sooner than you should.
Keep from thinking that your first home is a temporary home, and you just might find one that you’ll eventually live in for a lifetime.
If you’re uncertain about pre-owned home, investing a on a pre-selling home might just be the right option for you. Visit our Lancaster New City page for more details. Lancaster New City is a flagship project of Profriends.