It's a big project, and it's an important part of your life.  Your home is a place of shelter, safety, and comfort.  It's the stage for some of life's biggest events, combining practical decisions with emotional feelings.

 

That's why I created the Buyer's Toolkit.  It helps you organize the process and get the details right.  It reminds you of things you need to remember as you pursue the home of your dreams.  More than that, it lists specific assignments for YOU to complete to get you through the process and into the home of your dreams!

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My Top Ten Topics about buying a home are nicely organized here - But in the real world, it can be tough to follow any rigid list or schedule.  Be prepared to be FLEXIBLE and PATIENT.  It's likely that things won't go exactly the way you want, and you're sure to run into issues.  Keep my Buyer's Toolkit handy through it all.  

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As your agent, I'll work hard to get your through the rough spots.  I'm your expert!

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Step #1:  Location

Have you driven through the neighborhood where you want to live?  Does one side of town have an attraction to you?  Have you thought about moving to take advantage of the opportunities of a new job in our area?  Have you seen the house of your dreams, or the street that looks like the one you've always wanted to live on?    

 

Whatever process it takes, your search for a house is intimately involved with location.  Location is the quintessential quality of real estate - Real estate is a place on earth you can own - and nothing else is.  Think of all the other things you can buy.  None of them is actually a place; none of them is a unique location. Only real estate is a unique location, and when you find real estate that you want to buy, you're actually buying an absolutely and completely unique part of the Earth.  

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Here are some of the factors you will want to consider when you think about the location of your new home:

• Ambience - Trees, open land, suburban streets, city streets, many neighbors, no neighbors, big yards, no yards, water access, great view, etc. 

• Conveniences - Schools, health facilities, shopping, recreation, restaurants, etc.

• Family & Friends - Close to/far from mom/dad/brother/sister/children/grandkids, friends, etc.

• Proximity to Work - Commuting time, distance, access to roads, public transportation, etc. 

• Available Services - City water, utilities, Internet access, cable TV, etc.

• Negatives - Noisy roads, annoying lights, traffic, environmental issues, etc. 

No location has everything - no location is perfect.  But the more you think about the factors mentioned above, the more you'll realize about the kind of location you'd like to call home.  

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If you are shopping for your home with a husband, wife, or other person, talk about location and find location factors that you agree upon.  When you disagree about location, find some middle ground.  Rank the positives and negatives of any location you're considering, and find factors that you agree upon - or at least factors that can be discussed.  

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When you consider location, it almost inevitably leads the the next item on my list - Budget and financing.  It's a huge topic, but let's get right to the essentials.

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Your Key Step - Location: 

Think about the factors that affect the locations you are considering, and discuss them with others involved in the purchase.  

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