Choosing a Neighborhood

Consider what's important to you: do you need to find a house that is near your job site, public services, or day-care facilities, or are you able to travel some distance to and from work in order to live in a house with a yard? Are neighborhood schools a major factor in your home-buying decision? Is nearness to shopping, recreational activities, or public transportation particularly important?

Size requirements

In choosing a home, an important consideration is the number and size of rooms. Is the house large enough or too large for your family size? Will your family soon outgrow the house? Will you be paying for more house than you need? The amount of land on which the house sits, or the size of the lot, also will influence the price of a house. If space for a yard, garden, or off-street parking is important to you, this will narrow your options.

In determining what size house to buy, you will want to consider both your current and future housing needs. You will want to consider looking for a house that will be adequate for at least the next 5 to 15 years.

Special features

You should also consider whether there are any special features in a home that would be particularly important to you and your family. Do you need space for laundry facilities? Is a garage a necessity? A second bathroom? A porch? Air conditioning? Wheelchair accessibility? You may not find a house in your price range that offers everything you want, but it helps to be able to tell a real estate sales professional what features are most important to you.

Make a List

Make a list of the things you want most in a house. Do you want 2 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms? Is one bathroom enough? Two story or single level home? Kitchen island? When you're done with your list, rank each item with a number from 1-10. One being the lowest priority and ten being the highest. This will give you a good starting point.