5 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before House Hunting
Are you ready to embark on the exciting journey of buying your first home? Before you start scrolling through endless listings or attending open houses, take a moment to pause and reflect. As a first-time homebuyer, it's easy to get caught up in the thrill of the hunt, but a little self-reflection can save you time, stress, and potentially a lot of money in the long run. At Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Beyond, we've helped countless first-time buyers find their dream homes. One thing we've learned? The most successful homebuyers are those who take the time to really understand their needs before they start looking. To help you get started, we've put together five essential questions you should ask yourself before you even think about scheduling that first viewing. 1. What's Your Long-Term Vision for Homeownership? Let's kick things off with a bit of daydreaming. Close your eyes and imagine yourself five, ten, even fifteen years down the road. Where do you see yourself? Are you still in this home, or has it become a stepping stone to something else? Your answer to this question can significantly impact the type of home you should be looking for. If you're planning to start a family soon, that cozy one-bedroom condo might not be the best choice. On the flip side, if you're buying with the intention of upgrading in a few years, you might prioritize properties with good resale value over your dream forever home. Remember, buying a home is a big investment, both financially and emotionally. Aligning your purchase with your long-term goals can help ensure you're making a decision you'll be happy with for years to come. 2. What's Your Ideal Location and Why? Location, location, location – it's a cliché for a reason! The neighborhood you choose can have a huge impact on your daily life and your home's future value. But what makes a location "ideal" varies from person to person. Ask yourself: Do you want to be in the heart of the city or prefer a quieter suburban setting? How important is your commute time? Are you looking for a specific school district? Do you need easy access to public transportation? What about proximity to amenities like parks, restaurants, or shopping centers? Don't just think about where you want to live – think about why. Understanding your motivations can help you prioritize when you're faced with tough decisions later in your search. 3. What Are Your Non-Negotiable Features in a Home? Now it's time to make your wish list – but we're not talking about your "nice-to-haves" just yet. Instead, focus on the features you absolutely can't live without. These are your deal-breakers, the things that will make or break a potential purchase. For some, it might be a certain number of bedrooms or bathrooms. For others, it could be a garage, a backyard, or a home office. Maybe you need a ground-floor bedroom for accessibility reasons, or perhaps energy efficiency is at the top of your list. Whatever your must-haves are, be honest with yourself about what you truly need versus what you simply want. Keep in mind that the more flexible you can be, the more options you'll have in your price range. 4. How Much Space Do You Really Need? In the world of real estate, bigger isn't always better. While it's tempting to go for the largest home you can afford, more space means higher costs – not just in terms of the purchase price, but also in ongoing expenses like heating, cooling, and maintenance. Take a good look at your current living situation: Do you feel cramped, or do you have rooms you rarely use? Do you need space for a growing family or frequent guests? What about storage for your hobbies or collections? Be realistic about your space needs. Remember, it's not just about square footage – smart layouts can make smaller homes feel spacious, while poorly designed larger homes can feel cramped. 5. What's Your True Budget, Including Hidden Costs? Last but certainly not least, let's talk money. Your budget isn't just about the listing price of a home – there are many other costs to consider. As first-time buyers, it's crucial to understand the full financial picture before you start your search. Consider: Your down payment and monthly mortgage payments Property taxes and homeowners insurance Utilities (which may be higher than what you're used to in a rental) Maintenance and repair costs Homeowners association fees, if applicable Closing costs and other fees associated with buying a home Don't forget to factor in a cushion for unexpected expenses. The last thing you want is to stretch your budget so thin that you can't enjoy your new home or, worse, risk foreclosure if your financial situation changes. It's also worth considering how your home purchase might affect other financial goals, like saving for retirement or paying off student loans. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a home that costs no more than 2.5 to 3 times your annual household income, but your specific situation may vary. Wrapping It Up Taking the time to honestly answer these five questions can make a world of difference in your home-buying journey. Not only will you have a clearer picture of what you're looking for, but you'll also be better prepared to make quick decisions in a competitive market. Remember, buying a home is a big step, but it doesn't have to be an overwhelming one. By doing this self-assessment upfront, you're setting yourself up for success and ensuring that when you do find "the one," you'll know it. At Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Beyond, we're here to guide you every step of the way. From helping you refine your search criteria to navigating the offer process, our team of experienced real estate professionals is committed to making your first home purchase a smooth and enjoyable experience. Remember, the path to homeownership is a marathon, not a sprint. By taking the time to ask yourself these important questions, you're already miles ahead in your journey. Happy house hunting!
Renting vs. Buying a Home + Pros and Cons for Each
Buying a home has long been part of the American dream, but homeownership isn’t for everyone. Sometimes, renting makes more sense and offers greater freedom.Have you been wondering about renting vs. buying? Choosing whether to invest in a home or pay rent is a big decision that depends on your finances, lifestyle, and personal goals.One isn’t inherently better than the other. Both require an income to afford housing payments unless you have enough money on hand for an all-cash purchase, but even then, you need to consider your overall financial picture. Renting and buying come with various degrees of maintenance responsibility and commitment.Whether renting or buying is right for you depends on your current situation and an honest look at where you think you’ll be years later.So, use our guide to renting vs. buying and consider the pros and cons for each. Then, remember that we can’t make a perfect choice, but we should be wise enough to carefully weigh all our options.Renting a Home Renting a home offers flexibility. There’ll typically be someone else to tend to maintenance issues. You’ll probably have predictable monthly expenses, so you can likely count on extra cash in your budget. However, many rentals require you to adhere to a list of community and individual unit rules (e.g., your landlord might not be flexible if you want to paint your bedroom bright pink).When you rent, you’re not necessarily throwing money away (you have to pay to live somewhere, even if you buy), but you’re not building wealth either. Here are some pros and cons for renting a home.Pros Many people find immense benefits to renting. The following are reasons why you might want to rent your next house.Flexibility. You can probably move quickly if you need to (as long as you’re not in a lease or are willing to pay to break your lease)Predictable housing payment. Your housing costs (including utilities) may be consistent each month since you won’t have to factor in repairs and other expenses.Low maintenance. You’ll likely have a landlord or property manager who will handle major maintenance tasks (but be prepared to change your own lightbulbs or fix minor problems).No property taxes. The owner of your rental is responsible for paying taxes on the property.Less strict financial standards. Getting approved for a rental unit is often much easier than qualifying for a home mortgage.Cons Renting can seem like the best option if you don’t want to deal with surprise expenses or repairs, but there are some drawbacks.Rent increases. Landlords can raise your rent after your lease expires, especially in areas with high housing demand.Possibility of a property sale. The owner of your rental may decide to sell the property, especially during times of rising home values, leaving you looking for a new place to live.No tax benefits. You won’t get to claim homeowner deductions on your taxes.Limited personalization. When you rent, you usually can’t do what you want with the home (no building your dream kitchen or entertainer’s backyard, in most cases).Owning a Home When you own your home, you get to make decisions about what to do with almost all aspects of your property (condos, townhouses, and other properties with homeowners associations may significantly limite your freedom). But you’re the one responsible when something goes wrong too. Purchasing your next house can provide pride of ownership—a place to truly call your own. However, picking up and leaving may be diifficult if you change your mind, have a job transfer, or experience an emergency that uproots you.Pros Is owning a home right for you? There are benefits to purchasing, including the following.Sense of stability and community. Owning can offer more assurance that you’ll enjoy the fruits of a neighborhood for an extended period.Builds equity. Most real estate increases in value over time.It’s yours to improve. Decorate, renovate, and add on as your heart desires.Tax benefits. Homeowners can claim a mortgage interest deduction on their taxes.Cons Wondering what might not be in your best interest when it comes to owning a home? Here are some reasons you might want to give homeownership a second thought.Responsible for maintenance. As a homeowner, you’ll have to tend to all repairs (or hire someone) and bear the cost of all maintenance.Requires a sizeable financial commitment. You’ll have long-term expenses like property taxes and homeowners insurance, along with a hefty initial investment (including a down payment and loan closing costs).Property value may decrease. While most real estate increases in value, you might lose your equity in the property.Difficult to change your mind. It’s not easy to pick up and move if you change your mind about where you want to live or if life’s circumstances call you elsewhere.Still not sure if you should rent or buy? Ask yourself the following questions to help make the decision easier.How long do I plan to live in the area?What are my finances like?What is the state of the housing market?How does my job factor into this choice?What are the costs of renting vs. owning this particular property?Are you looking to sell or buy a new home? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® walk you through the process.The post Renting vs. Buying a Home + Pros and Cons for Each appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
Houseplants That Can Survive Weeks Without Water
Do you love plants having houseplants but forget to water them? If you’re like us, your perfect home would be filled with greenery—lush hanging potted plants and counter and tabletop plants everywhere. But again like us, your forgetfulness probably gets in the way of your plant-filled dream. And, your busyness.Amazingly, though, some houseplants can survive weeks without water. That means, you can have the green and lush home you want without having to constantly replace dead plants or worry you’re going to kill them. All plants indeed need water and most require it regularly. But, many species thrive on minimal watering and several can live up to a month without a drink.Here are some gems of houseplants to consider if you’re away from home often, too frenzied to deal with regular plant watering, or just plain prone to forgetfulness.Rubber PlantAlso known as Ficus elastica, the rubber plant is a fast-growing houseplant that does best in low- to medium-water conditions, meaning you only have to water it moderately every 15 days or so. During fall and winter, rubber plants requires even less water—a good dousing every month or so. Rubber plant loves bright filtered sunlight and can grow up to 10 feet tall indoors, in the right conditions.Spider PlantSpider plant needs a bit of attention (regular watering) in its initial growing phase, but if you can get past that, you’ll be good to go with a beautiful plant you only need to water now and then. When fully grown, water your spider plant every seven to 10 days during spring and summer. In wet and humid conditions or cold weather, you can get away with watering it every 20 to 30 days.Snake PlantSnake plant is perfect for the forgetful gardener. In most indoor conditions, you only need to water it every 10 to 20 days (depending on where you place the plant). During winter and in wet weather, you can ignore it even longer. This gorgeous and hearty houseplant has striking dark-green sword-like leaves, sometimes with cream, silver, or white variegation. It thrives in low to bright light and grows up to four feet tall.ZZ PlantLeave a ZZ plant without water for a month and it’ll be as vibrant as ever when you pay attention to it again, as long as you place it in indirect sunlight. This easy-to-care-for houseplant loves a good soaking and then prefers to be left alone for a few weeks. Too much water causes rhizome rot, which can kill the plant. This slow grower has a stunning leathery look and can get up to three feet tall and wide.Cast Iron PlantCast iron plant is another houseplant that only needs occasional watering. It actually does best in low water conditions, so saturate it and then don’t touch it again until the top level of soil dries out. If cared for properly (which we trust you will), this lively plant will grace your home with beautiful dark green foliage that grows up to two feet tall.Succulents and CactiSucculents and cacti thrive in the desert, so they’re going to love receiving minimal water in your home. They’re tough and do extremely well in dry soil. You’ll only need to water them every month or so because they retain water in their leaves. Just make sure your succulents and cacti get plenty of sunlight and place them in a pot with drainage holes.Zebra HaworthiaZebra haworthia, also called zebra cactus or zebra plant, is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. It stores water, so it can thrive for days in dry soil (you’ll only need to water it when the top layer of soil looks dry). Zebra cactus also loves bright, indirect sunlight. It stays small—less than a foot tall and wide—and is an attractive plant that goes well with modern decor.Sago PalmThe sago palm is a popular slow-growing plant that gives a space a tropical look. It loves dry soil, and once it establishes its root system, you only need to water it every two to three weeks. Sago palms have striking leathery dark-green fronds that can grow up to three feet long and the plant can get up to five feet tall.AloeThe aloe plant also carries water in its leaves, so it can thrive for up to four weeks without watering (if you place your aloe in the sun, you may have to water it a little more frequently). This beauty that has spiky, toothed leaves is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. A healthy and happy aloe plant can reach up to three feet in height.Are you looking to sell or buy a new home? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® walk you through the process.The post Houseplants That Can Survive Weeks Without Water appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
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