One of the most difficult decisions that we, as parents, have to make is choosing the perfect new house. The new house will be our haven away from the hustle and bustle of our jobs, and it will also be the “nest” where we nurture our family. As such, it should be able to provide us not only protection and safety but comfort as well.
Below are some tips for choosing the perfect home.
Your Budget
The biggest concern when buying a home is your budget. Most mortgage lending companies allow their clients to loan at least three times their income; however, there are also those that allow their clients to loan more than that.
While it’s tempting to loan more money for a more beautiful and bigger house, you should always consider your budget. Can you afford the monthly payments? Will the higher loan create a huge dent in your budget? Will you be able to meet your financial obligations with the higher loan?
If your ambition to have a beautiful and bigger house is going to tremendously affect your budget, then think again. Financial stress can affect your relationship with your spouse and, sooner or later, your children as well. Don’t let your want for a prettier, bigger, and grander home affect your family. Owning the house of your dreams can easily become a financial problem if you can’t afford the monthly payments.
Your Location
There are so many things that you have to consider in choosing the perfect home. First off, the location of the house is very important. Remember, you can easily have the house improved or renovated, but you won’t be able to move it. So choose the location wisely, and see to it that the neighborhood is family-friendly.
Second, in addition to the location, you also have to consider the accessibility of the house. Is it near your relatives, family, and friends? Is it near your workplace and other facilities and amenities like the malls, parks, hospitals, etc.? Is it near your children’s schools? Traveling long distances to and from your home can be quite stressful, and if both of you are working, then your house’s location is going to decrease the quality time you spend with your family. If you want to spend more time with them, then choose a house that’s not only near amenities but your workplace and their school as well. The short distance allows you to spend more time with your loved ones after work and after school.
Third, when choosing a house based on location, it’s also important that you check the crime rate of the area. A quick way to check this is by visiting the official website of the area or by taking a look at their local paper. The news posted there will give you a very good idea about the safety of the area.
Choosing the perfect home is not just about how pretty the structure is, how large the house is, or how many rooms there are. But it’s also about your finances and where the new house will be located. After all, financial problems, huge mortgage, the wrong neighborhood, etc. can easily put stress on a family.
