Floor plan. Convenient storage for towels, cleaning supplies, outerwear. Electric outlets on at least two walls in every room, preferably on every wall. Laundry on same floor as bedrooms, so I’m not hauling up and down stairs.
Stairs that are wide enough for comfort when carrying something, with treads that are deep enough for my big feet, with a landing halfway, with handrails or sufficient space to install, with lighting that doesn’t require me to stand on steps to change bulb. I’d rather not have stairs, but I refuse to live in a place with steep narrow dark stairs again.
Location, including checking crime and flood zone maps. Condition, particularly foundation. Any hint of mold is a no-go. Nearby vacant lots raise possibility of neighborhood’s character changing, so check zoning.
I wonder whether owning a home is always best. It’s a big responsibility. When you rent, the responsibility is someone else’s. If a natural disaster not covered by insurance destroys the property you own, you have a total loss, but if you are renting, you lost your stuff only. Also, insurance fees and property taxes may approach the cost of rent. If you own a condo or coop, you are at the mercy of the corporation. Do you really own? If you have to pay property taxes, you are essentially renting. When you own, repairs and maintenance are your responsibility. When you rent, they’re not.
Before we were married my wife bought a house in the path of a major highway expansion project. We got a very, very nice buyout for that. (She’s now in charge of real estate and I’m in charge of non-real estate investments…). This buy-out plan works better if you’re “investing” in real estate. Otherwise, I learned from my parents. They bought a house and lived there 49 years. We’re at 26 years and counting. I guess just buy a place you’re happy with, that you can afford, that you don’t mind living in for many years.
Single floor, cul de sac and no HOA.
Floor plan. Convenient storage for towels, cleaning supplies, outerwear. Electric outlets on at least two walls in every room, preferably on every wall. Laundry on same floor as bedrooms, so I’m not hauling up and down stairs.
Stairs that are wide enough for comfort when carrying something, with treads that are deep enough for my big feet, with a landing halfway, with handrails or sufficient space to install, with lighting that doesn’t require me to stand on steps to change bulb. I’d rather not have stairs, but I refuse to live in a place with steep narrow dark stairs again.
Location, including checking crime and flood zone maps. Condition, particularly foundation. Any hint of mold is a no-go. Nearby vacant lots raise possibility of neighborhood’s character changing, so check zoning.
I wonder whether owning a home is always best. It’s a big responsibility. When you rent, the responsibility is someone else’s. If a natural disaster not covered by insurance destroys the property you own, you have a total loss, but if you are renting, you lost your stuff only. Also, insurance fees and property taxes may approach the cost of rent.
If you own a condo or coop, you are at the mercy of the corporation. Do you really own? If you have to pay property taxes, you are essentially renting.
When you own, repairs and maintenance are your responsibility. When you rent, they’re not.
A good home inspector. I’m not sure one really exists, but anyone is better than the one your real estate agent recommends.
Before we were married my wife bought a house in the path of a major highway expansion project. We got a very, very nice buyout for that. (She’s now in charge of real estate and I’m in charge of non-real estate investments…). This buy-out plan works better if you’re “investing” in real estate. Otherwise, I learned from my parents. They bought a house and lived there 49 years. We’re at 26 years and counting. I guess just buy a place you’re happy with, that you can afford, that you don’t mind living in for many years.