Q: My partner and I have been together for a few years and have been living in a rented house. It’s time for us to buy our first house. Do you have any recommendations on what we should be looking for in our new home? — Christine
A: There is no shortage of advice when you are looking to buy your first home.
The first thing to understand is that the concept of a perfect home is a myth. There is no such thing, and what you should be looking for is the best home you can afford that fits your family and lifestyle.
The reality is that you need a home in good repair, at the right price, and in the best location for your family.
Start by making a list of the features most important to you, such as proximity to work or good schools, a certain number of bedrooms, large closets, or a garage. Try to find a home that checks as many of those boxes as possible.
Then consider the area you want to live in. If you know the general area well, perhaps because it is close to where you live now, this shouldn’t be too hard.
But if you’re new to an area or not finding what you’re looking for locally, you can branch out and explore other areas.
If you go this route, try to visit the area you’re considering at different times of the week and at different times of day. What might be a quiet neighborhood on a Tuesday at 3 p.m. can be absolute chaos on a Saturday night.
Finally, be realistic about who you are and what you want to do.
It may seem like a good idea to live in a community with lots of activities at the recreational center, but if you aren’t someone who likes that sort of thing or the idea of a strict homeowners’ association telling you what color to paint your mailbox, it’s not going to work for you.
For example, if you’re just not the person who goes to a farmers’ market, even if you like the idea of doing so, don’t choose an area with farmers’ markets, because in reality, you haven’t been going to one for all these years for a reason. It’s just not your thing.
While it’s good to be aspirational, you should look for a home that suits who you are, not necessarily who you hope to become.
Story by Gary M. Singer, South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. He practices real estate, business litigation and contract law from his office in Sunrise, Florida. He is the chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is a co-host of the weekly radio show Legal News and Review. He frequently consults on general real estate matters and trends in Florida with various companies across the nation. Send him questions online at www.sunsentinel.com/askpro or follow him on Twitter @GarySingerLaw.
