Tips to Decide on the Right First House for You

by Kevin Smith Author

One of the most exciting times in life is when you got to shop around and purchase your first home. Between trying to get approved for a mortgage and going to open house after open house, it can be hectic, but worth it in the end. However, when searching for Pebble Creek homes for sale, many get bogged down in trying to figure out what they should be looking for in a home, and risk making the wrong decision as a result. Here are some tips to make the right choice for your first home.

Square Footage: Overrated

When looking at houses, it is easy to get caught up in how large a house is, in terms of square footage. While this is a decent metric for cost and potential future value, it is not the only thing that should be considered. A larger house will require more maintenance, and have larger utility bills, which can cause your utility bills to increase exponentially as size increases. You also have to consider the other factors that will effect price, such as location, how modern it is, and whether it has unique features like high ceilings or built ins.

Get the Toolbelt out

Especially for a first home, it is unrealistic to expect that every single box will be checked off on your wish list. Often, you will have to make sacrifices and potentially commit to renovations before you can even consider moving in. At a bare minimum, you should expect to repaint the walls, but you might find some projects are necessary to turn a house into a forever home.

Consider All the Payments

All home buyers have a budget that they need to stick to, and that budget will translate into how much of a monthly payment you can afford. However, houses will often have expenses beyond a mortgage payment that also need to be considered. Property taxes will vary by area, but must be paid every month. Some houses will have homeowner’s association payments, of up to several hundred dollars per month, that need to be made, or else you could lose your home. Failing to account for these can lead to becoming "house poor" if you are not careful.

As exciting of a time as home buying is, it is a crucial time period for your financial future. Searching through Pebble Creek homes for sale can be a challenge, but one that will pay off handsomely if done right.