Monday, October 25, 2010

All Treats...No Tricks! Making Good Real Estate Choices...

*Purchase a home in an area with limited land availability (supply v. demand premise will help to insulate your value)

*Look for "good bones"-older or newer homes with quality construction, slow-growth wood members, warranties, attention to detail and the like--don't let the "bells and whistles" of new construction or cosmetic restorations deceive you!

*JOBS! Look in areas that are poised for growth, have substantial job centers and are relatively stable as compared to the surrounding areas--check with local chambers of commerce and city/county government officials for this information (I am always happy to have this information available)

*Schools--whether you have children in school may not matter to you now, but it might matter to future buyers. Pay attention to desirable school districts and look at school "report cards"

*Roads--Being close but not on top of major roads and commercial centers is a bonus, especially for commuters, add to that easy access to airports for an added bonus!

*Adjacent Property Owners-How do the neighbors keep up their yard, the exterior of their home, etc. What may seem not so big now may present a bigger challenge down the road when trying to sell. Also, make sure that if vacant land adjoins the property you are looking at, that you understand its current zoning use and that it could change based on governmental land use plans. It's a good idea to visit your local planning department to check things out or ask your agent to assist you.

*Crime-No one wants to live in an area riddled with crime--make sure that not only do you look at published public reports available on the Internet, but it's also a good idea to talk to the local police or Sheriff's department about the nature of the crimes. Sometimes what sounds bad on paper has no bearing on you and the same holds true for some crimes that sound minor being bigger and more intrusive than the report reveals.

Have any tips you'd like to add? Need to talk further about purchasing the home that's right for you? Comment or give me a call 336-817-3598 or email me brooke.cashion@allentate.com

Happy Monday!

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