Searching for the Perfect Home for a Growing Family – 5 Things to Consider
Purchasing a family home symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter in life. However, finding the perfect home for a growing family is no easy task. Even though there are many factors to consider, it’s possible to find a home that will suit most of your family’s needs. Let’s take a look at the list of five things you need to consider when looking for the perfect house for your growing family.
Consider Your Finances
Before you start your search for a new home, consider your budget. Finances are often the deciding 
factor for buying a home for a growing family. You need to be familiar with the options that are available to you as well as the process of making such a big purchase.
The majority of first time home buyers opt for a mortgage to get their dream home. However, it’s important to first determine your budget so that you know what you can afford to borrow before searching for a home. Finding a good loan officer is also another critical step in that process.Â
It starts with you providing your mortgage lender with financial information such as your income and the amount of savings, after which they review it and inform you how big of a loan you can get. By doing so, you get an insight into the price range of the houses you should be aiming for.
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Think About the Space You Need
After you have established a budget and know how big of a house you can afford, it’s time to start looking for your dream home. How big of a house you need depends on the number of members in your family, as well as your future plans.
When looking for the perfect home, the number of bathrooms is often the deciding factor for a growing family. If the house you like happens to have smaller bathrooms, consider their design and pay attention to how those spaces are utilized. Even the smallest of bathrooms can be appealing if they have a quality designer bath. A space-savvy solution for smaller square footage, a small bathtub maximizes the use of space while giving it a subtle luxurious feel.
By choosing a home that accommodates the needs of your growing family, you’re making sure that the house you get works for everyone.
Determine the Location
A crucial step in the process is deciding on the location of your new home. It is something that needs to be well thought out and may be one of the most difficult decisions you will make. When choosing the perfect house for your family, it’s best to look for neighborhoods that are designed in a way that is family-oriented and kid-friendly. Areas that have numerous family amenities for all family members to enjoy is something you should consider looking for when searching for a new place you can call home.
Look for areas that have playgrounds or parks your children can play in to ensure fun after-school activities for your kids. Before you arrange any bookings, it would be a good idea to visit that specific area you’re planning to purchase a house in to make sure that it fits in well with everything you’re looking for.
Consider Neighborhood Safety
How safe the neighborhood is will affect your decision about whether to buy the house or not. Take a stroll down the street and take a look around the block. What do the houses look like? Are the yards well-maintained or unkept? Are the neighbors friendly? Be sure to ask yourself all of these questions before you buy a house.
It would be wise to do thorough research of the area and check its crime rate. The neighborhood you decide to move to needs to be safe because you are choosing a neighborhood where you may possibly spend the rest of your life.
Proximity to Work and Schools
Last but not least, you need to consider the proximity to work and school. How far is the nearest public or private school? Do you need to drive your children to school or does the school provide transportation for students? Will your children need to use public buses? How much time will it take you to get to work each morning?
Determining how long it takes to commute to work and school will also affect your decision about the area you choose to settle in. Make sure you find a place that has access to great schools while simultaneously being at a convenient distance for traveling to and from work every day.
Summary
Although though it takes time and effort, finding the perfect home for a growing family is possible. Refer to the tips above and use them as a guide in your search for the perfect place that you can call home. Remember, your local real estate professional can help guide you through so many of these steps and can provide additional information that you may not have considered.
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