Purchasing a piece of property is a complicated process in even the best of circumstances. Compound this exhausting and financially intensive situation with the addition of your parental responsibilities. When you start shopping for a home as a parent, there are certain concepts that you need to consider for the benefit of your family and, particularly, your children. Today, we are going to break down five concepts that you should pay attention to as you shop around for your next home.
1. Access to Local Amenities
As every parent understands, access to amenities will always reign supreme when you have children. Young or old, make sure that your new home has access to amenities such as parks, recreational centers, affordable grocery shopping, and other such services. Access to affordable and entertaining amenities can add a new dimension to the quality of your home purchase.
Remember: You are not just purchasing a home, you are also buying into the neighborhood and surrounding area.
2. Quality of School District
If you have student-aged children, finding a home inside of a great school district should be at the top of your list. Not only will you want a great school district for your own children, but this feature will also help you in the future should you chose to sell your home. You can find out more about local school districts by investigating parental Facebook groups, city subreddits on Reddit, and even by working with your a professional realtor.
Remember: School districts can vary from one neighborhood to the next. Work with a talented realtor or an online assessment tool to ensure the quality of your school district.
3. Neighborhood Safety + Privacy
According to a survey released by the team at Berkshire Hathaway, nearly half of all homebuyers ranked neighborhood quality atop their list of desired features. There are a variety of ways that the quality of your neighborhood can directly impact your life. A neighborhood filled with families may mean that your children get to grow up with local friends. Additionally, you will want to inquire after the privacy and safety statistics of your desired areas. Look into local crime statistics as well as recent news reports for potential neighborhoods.
Remember: There is more to the safety and privacy of a neighborhood than meets the eye. Before committing to a property, take a chance to visit it at different times of the day and week. Sometimes neighborhoods can change dramatically on the weekends or after dark, case-in-point: a home in Wrigleyville in Chicago, IL, would look quite different during baseball season!
4. Home Layout + Room to Grow
Whether you are expecting your first child or already have a couple of children in the family, pay close attention to the layout and size of your targeted homes. It is amazing how fast a child can outgrow their bedroom. If you plan on staying in one home for a prolonged period of time, consider purchasing a home larger than what you currently need.
Remember: Consider purchasing a slightly larger home than you need if you plan on sticking around for a while. Having room to grow can provide longevity to your house purchase.
5. Include Your Children
Finally, you should consider including your children during your house hunting escapades. While your children shouldn’t get the deciding vote when you are purchasing a home, they should still have a voice. If you are going to be moving to a new home away from your old hometown, this is particularly important.
Remember: Include your children in the home-buying process. This will make your move easier for both you and your children.
