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 Which House is right for you?
Before you choose a house style you need to think about and examine your present lifestyle, as well as possible changesYou will want to give thought to your household -- who will be occupying this home, both now and in the immediate future.
Lifestyle
Consider your current lifestyle and members of your family, but also look ahead 5-10 years from now. How long do you want to live in the area? Are you expecting to have more children? Do you have teenagers that will be moving out in a few years? Will a parent or spouse's parent need to move in with you? These are all important considerations when purchasing the type of home you need. You may be purchasing a retirment home and desire a ranch-style house so that all the rooms are on one floor. You may want to consider an extra room on the main floor for an office. Or you may need an additional exit for the home. Will you want the spare bedroom for guests or children that may stay overnight? Do you need a 2-car or 3-car garage? It's usually not economical to sell a home after just a year or two of ownership. Thus it is wise to try to anticipate any lifestyle changes that may occur in the next 5 years or so.
City, Small Town or Country?
Besides personal preference, commuting time and costs will no doubt be a deciding factor on whether you live in the city, a small town nearby, or the country. Consider how far you want your kids to travel to school and how much chauffering you will have to do. If you are entering retirement, you may prefer to be closer to clinics, grocery stores and the pharmacy. Regardless of age, you will want to be close to your favorite activities and interests.
Home Owner Associations and Neighborhood Developments
There was a time, not so long ago, when a new development would open with its 50 single-family homes and its name at the entrance. Members would live there the same way they did in a home on any suburban or city street. However, that is not necessarily the case anymore. Today, many single-family developments around the country operate with home-owners associations, established by the developer. Everyone buying into that development must join. The association is bound together by its own covenants. Buyers must adhere to covenants that can cover just about any issue, including the color of your house, roofing materials, whether you can operate your business from home, and how many cats or dogs you can have. Sometimes there is an annual fee to belong to such associations.
The major plus to an owners association is that your property values are maintained in that community. No one can get away for very long with repairing cars in the driveway as a hobby, allowing his or her grass to become too high, or creating other neighborhood eyesores.
What is the downside? No one will be making an exception for you. You will not be able to park your RV in your driveway for longer than specified no matter how well-liked you are. Everyone sticks to the fine print.
Not all the communities have the same type of by-laws. If you are interested in purchasing a home in one of these developments, ask to view the covenants first so you know what you're getting into.
Your Wish List
Before considering house styles, consider what features you'd like in your new home. Would you like an eat-in kitchen? How about a room on the first floor that can be your office? Would you like a formal dining room? Do you need a 2-car or 3-car garage? You must decide what is important to you and your family. Read our Features to Look For article for more information. Then, fill out our Features Checklist and we'll help find just the right home for you!
If this article did not answer all of your questions about this topic, please call us and a Knecht representative will be happy to explain all the details and legalities that are involved with selling or buying real estate property.
920-921-0396
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Let one of our experienced Knecht representatives guide you through the home buying and home selling process.
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Fill out our Features Checklist form and send it to Knecht Realty. We'll help you find just what you're looking for!
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