(ThySistas.com) Imagine you have just found the house of your dreams, with all the windows and views in the right places. However, you are also raising a family and you realize that the stairs are not kid-friendly or the master bedroom is far out of reach of the children. What if an emergency crops up in the middle of the night? That house will not matter anymore as your family comes first.
Buying a home, especially for first-time homeowners, is as delightful as a tedious experience. However, as a parent, every decision you make is not just about you anymore. Instead, you also have to consider the needs of your family and find a perfect balance in a home.
If you are a parent, here are a few tips to keep in mind when looking to buy a home:
1. Get Pre-approved for a Mortgage
Don’t start house hunting until you have been pre-approved for a loan. Getting pre-approved is even more important when you have kids. Pre-approval allows you to know your baseline, i.e., the price range of homes that you can afford.
Before starting your search for a house, figure out your finances. Also, research about the taxes, both state and local, that you will be liable to pay when you own the house. Expenses do not end with owning a home, and in some regions, property tax rates for homeowners are pretty high. Add a mortgage into the mix and buying a home becomes nearly impossible. Especially in states that are in high demand. Such as new homes in Utah, and literally the whole west coast.
After figuring out your financial situation, go ahead with the mortgage application to get pre-approved.
2. The Location of the Home
The location of the house you intend to buy may not be a big deal to you. However, location is everything when you have children, especially young ones.
As a parent looking to buy a home, you need to evaluate various factors to determine whether the location would be suitable for your children now and in the future. When vetting a location, ask yourself the following questions:
- What are schools in the area like and what is their proximity?
- How far is your place of work?
- What is the state of local facilities like hospitals, playgrounds, convenience stores, parks and more? And what is their proximity?
- What is the neighborhood like? Is it friendly to kids?
- Are there other kids around and other families like yours living comfortably in the area?
3. Safety of the Home
The safety of the home is a priority when you have kids. Assess the prospective house for any safety hazards and decide whether they can be remedied. The surrounding grounds also need to be examined for potential hazards. While a beautiful pond is a sight to behold, for a parent with little kids, it’s nothing more than a deathtrap.
Evaluate the overall safety of the house to determine whether it would be suitable for living with your family.
4. Size of the House
If you have a family, another thing you should consider when buying a house is its size as well as the general layout. Children need a spacious environment where they can roam free and play without feeling the need to go outside.
You also want to check the home’s floor plan. Unless your kids are old enough, you want their bedrooms to be on the same floor as yours. You may also want to factor in future prospects like your children growing up in the home or having more children. Will the house accommodate these future changes?
5. Proximity to Streets
If you are buying a home in a city with busy streets and highways, check its proximity to the streets. High amounts of road traffic should make you think twice about buying the house if you have young children.
Busy streets also come with other dangers for children, like interacting with strangers. Come up with a plan to navigate that problem.
6. How is the Yard Like?
Consider your children’s outdoor needs when hunting for a house. It may not seem like it’s necessary to have a yard, but kids need to play and explore. A sufficient and secure yard will provide them with that. You do not want the kids wandering off in search of a suitable place to play because you don’t have a yard.
Although it needs to be secure, a yard is an area that can be easily and quickly tidied up and made into an appropriate play space for kids so don’t worry too much if it’s a bit dirty or the lawn needs mowing. You’ll likely change these things anyway. If you live somewhere warm, it could be a nice idea to contact Premier Pools & Spas to see if you would be able to put a small pool in the yard for the kids to enjoy in summer with their friends.
Buying a home is a serious decision that needs to be handled diligently. When you have kids in the picture, carrying out due diligence throughout the process is vital. You should be objective during your search since you are looking for a house where your family will likely live for decades to come.
Staff Writer; Latasha James