Visioning Your Future Home

What are your personal needs and wants when it comes to finding a place to live? Do you have a specific location, type of home, timeline, or other characteristics in mind? Here are a few topics to get you thinking about your future home.

Finding your neighborhood

What do you want to consider when picking the city in which you will live? How about the neighborhood or community?

» Does the neighborhood fit YOU?

» What will your commute to work, school, and play look like?

» What is the Walk Score?

» Do you want/need to be close to public transportation?

» Is the neighborhood in close proximity to grocery stores, shopping, gas stations, and local services?

» Is the neighborhood conveniently located to outdoor recreation such as parks, athletic courts, and/or hiking trails?

» What’s the crime rate? Talk to the local police/fire department.

» Who are your neighbors? Talk to them!

Types of homes

When you have an idea of your neighborhood, narrow your search even further by determining the specific type of home that will work for you, and for any other people who will be living with you. As you look at what you want in a house, will need to ask yourself some important questions and take into consideration some important factors.

Single-family: detached, stand alone dwelling, surrounded on all four sides with land, designated for one family. You own the house and the land it is on, and can make all decisions about how you will use this property.

Townhouse: may consist of three or more single-family units attached by adjoining sidewalls. Likely will have a “party wall” agreement with neighbors stating you will share equal costs if the wall between houses needs repaired.

Condo: home attached to other homes, shares common areas, may look like apartments or townhouse style with small yard.

New Construction:

Be aware of homeowners associations and new metro district taxes.