What are your rules when searching for a new home?

[SandyinMonterey]

For us, different requirements for different stages of our life. The next chapter will be down sizing but not any time too soon. But these are the requirements that stand regardless:
Not on a main street or busy road, not even a main road in neighborhood. I like being in a cul del sac.
No septic system or well water. Public sewer and water.
No powerlines (don't like them)
Excellent school system with highly rated schools (Important now and later)
Attached garage (minimum 2 but prefer 3)

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

In a dream scenario: pool and solar panels

In a somewhat more doable dream scenario: one floor. Though it would be long and big because I have always wanted 3-4 bedrooms and at least 2 baths

Most likely scenario: as long as the laundry room is on the same floor as my bedroom I’m happy

 

[Jaydee51]

Public water & sewer (no septic, no wells), paved driveway (no gravel), at least 2 bathrooms, washer & dryer in the house (not in the garage or on a porch) and a two car garage.

Sooo Interesting! In contrast, septic tanks down here amount to 110% savings a month on public water bill, because you save on sewer charges & fees. For example, if the actual water consumption is $100 a month, the public water & sewer bill will be $210 (it adds up significantly). Sewer charges are insane down here and maintaining a ceptic tank is not expensive ($200/year). The savings can buy a lot of Disney Gift Cards

 

[Jaydee51]

It is interesting reading everyone's "rules". I grew with well water. Nothing better. One of the nicest neighborhoods to live here all the homes have their own wells. They are surrounded by housing developments with water districts, and many efforts have been made by the water districts to annex those homes, but the resident keep saying no. My parents home was in that area and the well water was a selling point.

I'm not sure why a Well would be a bad thing, but perhaps i'm missing some of the details. Wells are very common down here and absolutely a plus. My parents, grandparents and in-laws all have wells to water the yard. So far we have installed Well pumps in the past three homes we've owned, it's a must do (if viable of course).

 

[mrodgers]

Property, large garage, and no neighbors. I couldn't care less what I sleep in, those things are the most important.

 

[GreatLakes]

We will be doing this in the spring so we have our list:

Move in ready. We will paint and do minor things but after re-doing pretty much our entire house we are not going through another big remodel project.
Proximity to our kid's school since he will be there for another 8 years after this year.
City water and sewer instead of well and/or septic.
Low traffic (aiming for a culd-de-sac)
Full basement
Ability to safely run from the house.

We are also hoping for a neighborhood with a community pool but that is a nice to have, not must have.

 

[DeeBee3]

There is definitely a stigma about wells and septics, or so it seems. When you have only lived with that type of water source and it's never been an issue, I guess I don't see the problem. Around these parts, unless you are in an actual city, you do not have public utilities.

I've never run out of water, the septic guy comes every couple of years, and I don't have water that tastes chlorinated. Yes, I have tasted public water nearby and it does not taste good. Too much treatment. I suppose it depends on your location.

Also have never had to worry about boiling or the occasional issue with public water. NYC uses the water from our reservoirs, so we have a decent supply.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

We had well water when I was a kid and almost every summer we had an issue with it running dry. We’d have to shower at a neighbor’s house, store drinking water, not flush the toilets, etc. It was a giant pain. I don’t know enough about wells to know if it could’ve been dug deeper or something to resolve the problem, I just know my parents got tired of dealing with it and hooked up to city water sometime after I moved out. I also remember the septic tank being an issue at times, too. That experience was enough for me — I would never buy a house with a well if I could avoid it.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not sure why a Well would be a bad thing, but perhaps i'm missing some of the details. Wells are very common down here and absolutely a plus. My parents, grandparents and in-laws all have wells to water the yard. So far we have installed Well pumps in the past three homes we've owned, it's a must do (if viable of course).

My parents first house had a well, but then a water district came in and they had the water line put in. But that water district was all untreated well water too, which was allowed at the time (1950s). But my dad only used the water district water to water the yard. He kept the water piped into the house hooked up to their well.

 

[RoseGold]

Talk to the neighbors before making an offer, especially if there is an HOA or condo board or complicated zoning/building issues. There's a nosy old lady who will tell you all the gossip somewhere. Ask who that lady is.

 

[TwoMisfits]

No main road in front of the house (has to be neighborhood type roads)
No sexual offenders within 1 mile
Crime rate must be low
Sidewalks - must have a walkable element for getting daily walks in
Must be "near" civilization (no more than 15 minutes to grocery/emergency medical)

 

[Pooh2]

We bought our house in our 20s, 35 years ago.
At that time, it did not occur to us to check into things like trash pick-up, public sewer or water, public library etc.
Obviously, this home is still working for us after 35 years so we would look for similar services if we move north for Retirment.
The one things we would never do is live in an HOA community.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Our number one rule was to buy "less house than we could afford".

 

[dez1978]

Must be firmly planted in the heart of the city. No new neighbourhoods on the far edges, suburbs, bedroom communities or (God forbid) acreage/rural properties EVER!

And that is literally my nightmare! We have 13 acres now, but we'd like to have more.

I'd want acreage to build my own. Preferably 20+ acres, country, but not TOOO country. A few miles outside of town, but not so far that it's an issue if you run out of milk. We actually live pretty much where I'd want to live regardless. There are some issues living rurally, like lack of good sports opportunities for my kids. But I couldn't stand living in a big city

 

[mrodgers]

There is definitely a stigma about wells and septics, or so it seems. When you have only lived with that type of water source and it's never been an issue, I guess I don't see the problem. Around these parts, unless you are in an actual city, you do not have public utilities.

I agree. Spent most of my adult life in the country. We did get lucky in that our well was on a spring and we didn't have any filters or anything in our system.

I'm on city water now and can't drink it even filtered because I can't stand drinking swimming pool water. Our water in the country was clean and delicious. I miss having a well. I got my first water bill in my life just last year at age 49.

 

[ronandannette]

And that is literally my nightmare! We have 13 acres now, but we'd like to have more.

I'd want acreage to build my own. Preferably 20+ acres, country, but not TOOO country. A few miles outside of town, but not so far that it's an issue if you run out of milk. We actually live pretty much where I'd want to live regardless. There are some issues living rurally, like lack of good sports opportunities for my kids. But I couldn't stand living in a big city

Country mouse and City mouse...we currently live in a condo, mid-town in a city of 1.5 million and it's our dream location.

 

[klmall]

After 30 years living in one house we insisted on finding a home with neighbors close by (not 5 acre yards etc., no sidewalks); underground utilities and high speed cable (or fiber). We liked our house but even though it was adjoining a huge planned community whenever we had any major summer or ice storm we lost power sometimes for days and we had to drive DS everywhere to see friends. We had a well and septic tank and I grew up with them also but it cost us our first buyer when we tried to sell. We didn't care if our new home was multi-storied as long as it had the master bedroom and office area on the first floor, a walk-out basement and at least 2.5 bathrooms/3 bedrooms.

We also toured some homes out here that didn't have a bathroom door separating it from the master bedroom. We were shocked and usually just left to tour other homes. DH also hates those garages at a 90 degree angle to the house making it sometimes harder to pull in and park.

I really wanted a loft and a catwalk on the second level and I got both!!! We are a block away from an elementary school but our neighborhood stays quiet and the school has a huge adjoining park with walks, ponds, and fountains etc. so we can step out the door and walk whenever we want something our beautiful 2.5 acreage back east didn't offer.

Our next home must have the underground utilities and high speed internet access and be one story with a finished basement but who knows where that will be!

 

[dez1978]

We had well water when I was a kid and almost every summer we had an issue with it running dry. We’d have to shower at a neighbor’s house, store drinking water, not flush the toilets, etc. It was a giant pain. I don’t know enough about wells to know if it could’ve been dug deeper or something to resolve the problem, I just know my parents got tired of dealing with it and hooked up to city water sometime after I moved out. I also remember the septic tank being an issue at times, too. That experience was enough for me — I would never buy a house with a well if I could avoid it.

WE only had one time that our well went dry. And it was just during a drought.

 

[dez1978]

Country mouse and City mouse...we currently live in a condo, mid-town in a city of 1.5 million and it's our dream location.

oh man. I lived in a townhouse/condo thing for a year. It was awful lol. I don't want to hear anyone elses kids screaming or dogs barking. I don't even really wanna hear my own. And I'd always be worried that my kids noise would bother others. They are 11 & 8 and I still don't even like staying in hotels bc I worry that they will disturb someone. I do complain that there isn't a target or starbucks or CVS within 30 miles of me. Thats the one downside to me.

 

[DeeBee3]

Never had a well run dry in 40 years - 3 houses. But, like I said, we have ample reservoirs that supply NYC and water is great here.