You're buying new house..what are you looking for? Update pg 5.

[walkaboutcelery]

1.Location
2.Counter Space in the Kitchen
3.Closet/ Storage Space

Those are my biggest wants in a new home, but with the exception of location which seems to be important to everyone- most buyers want different things in a home. I'm a Realtor and I know it sounds really clique but usually when my clients find the house they end up buying they can feel it on that first showing. Now is a great time to buy since housing prices are going up around the country. Good luck!

 

[mamacatnv]

A master bath with a toilet room!
Our Nevada house had a room with a door for the master potty - our TX house does not as it is not a common feature except in some of the newly built stuff. I MISS that dang potty room!

Like everyone has said - location etc.

We have owned 2 homes - some of the things that really mattered to me.
Tree's - after 16 years in a "new subdivision" with minimal trees, I really wanted the look/feel that older trees offer. We found a house that was only 15 years old but the builder built around the old growth oak trees - makes my neighborhood feel "mature" and I love it.

Storage - our current house has small closets, and no real storage options - its a constant struggle although I am getting better at getting rid of stuff.

Laundry room that is not in the walkway to the garage - still on my wish list!

Master shower that is large and roomy - I don't really care about a tub and I hate the tub/shower separate idea - go ahead and give me that big ole tub but add shower doors and a shower head.

NOISE LEVEL - if the living room is full of teens can I find peace and quiet in my bedroom? If DH stays up watching Transformers at full volume, will it shake the windows in my bedroom?

Between houses we rented a house that had the master right off of the living area, like the door opened to the living room - HATED this - the noise made me crazy.
A master removed from the other bedrooms is a nice perk as well.

Switches in the kitchen - is the garbage disposal switch convenient to the sink?
A place for a trash can
Gas stove is a must for me

Good luck and happy house hunting - personally I hate renting, never felt at home, buying gave me a sense of security as its "mine" ok its the banks but the bank doesn't care what color I paint the walls or how many pets I have

 

[lovemygoofy]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for such contributions and telling me what you would look for in a new house.

I have contacted a realtor and went out for my first day of house hunting. Some houses we walked in and walked right back out. (I'm looking at you curry house bleh). Another house was at the top of my budget and they apparently had no issue with their dog using the cream/white carpet as their bathroom.

We're going out looking again this weekend. I'm certainly seeing lot of houses I don't want. Luckily I'm in no hurry but I sure hope I find something I do want to buy.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just keep saying that.... NO hurry! NO hurry!
You have gotten a lot of good info here... Look at the structure 'bones' of the house, location, etc... not the things that are usually changed.
Let's just say I just LOVED that one house you mentioned, except for that yucky carpet and other more cosmetic issues... I would def. still consider it!!!!

Everybody has different tastes and needs! When we move, looking forward to retirement.... We will be looking for a small place. I would even go 2br with 2 nice baths, but they can be harder to sell if ever necessary. The things that are some of my must-haves are some private or semi-private outdoor space. Nice patio, deck, sunroom, etc... Nice kitchen... A more open floor-plan, but not just a big open great-room. It might be okay if extra bedroom(s) were upstairs. But, I am not climbing stairs. Living area and master suite on ground floor level.

I have decided that I do not want an 'Island'. Especially after reading an article that really nailed "Why you DON'T really want that island that you think you want". I think a nice half-height wall with a narrow shelf-counter would be a good option, if we ever build or full remodel. We want a smaller place, and and island can take up tons of space, and end up being a catch-all for all the usual kitchen and personal junk.

We have thought about moving to, or close to, the beach... I have a very specific idea mind of what I would like to have. I think of a nice beach condo or villa or cottage... Lots of light and clean lines. NO carpeting!!!! Nice light tile floors, light walls, ample windows and sunlight, and that outdoor space I mentioned.

I am reminded of how we have always bought our next vehicles... Well beforehand, I would be thinking, "We need a newer, bigger, whatever, vehicle...." And I would just be keeping my eyes out and my mind open to what models were out there. In the end, when we got in the right one, we drove it home, that day, and never looked back. Sometimes, it was not one of the few that were really on my list. I started saying, "You know the right one when your butt hits the seat". And, I think the same thing might apply to looking for a new home!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Another day of house hunting this afternoon. Should be interesting! I'm certainly learning the new area going around.

I'm trying to be reasonable with the budget and stay towards the middle more than the top of the budget but the top of the budget sure is tempting when looking at a few of the houses.
I told my husband last night we're going to buy a duplex. He can have his side, I'll have my side and we can put a breezeway in the middle

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hahahaha!!!!
Maybe to much 'togetherness' is not always a good thing!!!

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'd go on realtor.com or another realty site and look through the houses to get a better idea of what you want and what's available.

For me, if I were to look for a new home (and I might have to fairly soon when my husband finishes his masters), I would want/need at least 4 bedrooms, an office, a walk in pantry, a walk in laundry room (not just the closet type), decent sized kitchen and bedrooms, two living rooms (or living and family/great), and decent sized yard, and 2+ car garage.

Ideally, it would have a pool in good condition, a large deck, at least a small front porch, a level driveway, and a workroom in the garage. All those are just bonuses, though.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Another day of house hunting this afternoon. Should be interesting! I'm certainly learning the new area going around.

I'm trying to be reasonable with the budget and stay towards the middle more than the top of the budget but the top of the budget sure is tempting when looking at a few of the houses.
I told my husband last night we're going to buy a duplex. He can have his side, I'll have my side and we can put a breezeway in the middle

lol that sounds perfect.

It's hard to decide how much to spend. You want the nicest house you can afford, but you don't want all your money going to your mortgage. I think we struck a happy medium, but the lender said we could easily afford at least $150,000 more than what we spent on our house and there's just no way we could do that.

 

[mamacatnv]

Another day of house hunting this afternoon. Should be interesting! I'm certainly learning the new area going around.

I'm trying to be reasonable with the budget and stay towards the middle more than the top of the budget but the top of the budget sure is tempting when looking at a few of the houses.
I told my husband last night we're going to buy a duplex. He can have his side, I'll have my side and we can put a breezeway in the middle

Love this! Been married for almost 30 years - DD says "what are you and Daddy going to do when I go to college" (in 6 months) I said "I'm selling this house and buying a duplex, one side for me and the other for Daddy!" She can't decide if I'm serious bwahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[piccolopat]

They live in my neighborhood already and don't need to sell a house so they went with a good date for us. I know a lot can go south between now and then. That freaks me out a tad. I tend to be a negative Nelly to begin with too...

Have you thought about having an earlier closing with an agreement to rent from the new owners until May?

 

[piccolopat]

We're planning to move in 2-3 years. I'm retiring in the next year and we don't plan on paying the extraordinarily high property taxes that we have here in NY. We will be looking for a 3 bed, 2+ bath home. We'd prefer to have everything on one level but can live with a large bonus room or extra bedrooms upstairs. DH needs a space for his sound system and guitars and I need a home office / craft / music room so we will each have a place of our own to retreat to. We need an oversized 3 car garage. I can't stand some of the newer houses where it might fit cars if nobody ever opens a car door. I don't want open concept but prefer semi-open. I want to be able to peak into the other rooms without everything being exposed to all the clutter or the mess of the kitchen. Must have a pantry, utility and linen closets plus someplace to store seasonal and holiday stuff. I must have a large shower in the master (we custom built the one we have now and I am spoiled). We need enough closets and cabinet space for everyday life. DH wants a gated active adult community but I don't want an HOA. He wants Florida and I'd prefer mid-Atlantic so we still have seasons. Obviously we have some things to work out.

One thing to watch out for are older houses that have been updated but all they did was make the surfaces look pretty. Sometimes new paint, flooring and cabinets means old plumbing, heating and electrical were ignored.

 

[Kae]

Where are you guys moving to? I feel like you have mentioned it before, but I can't recall.
I wish I had a sink in my garage my sister had one put in and loves it.

Kae

 

[lovin'fl]

Have you thought about having an earlier closing with an agreement to rent from the new owners until May?

I was just saying to DH, tonight, that we should have done that because then we could buy and close on new house the end of April and slowly move stuff to it.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Oh my word I am freaking out! So I wasn't intending to buy so quickly but found a house we love in great neighborhood and almost new home. The owners very motivated to sell.
So we bought a house. We close in a few weeks. Oh my gosh..I'm going to own a home. Something of our own..


Oh and I guess I have a list now too.

A bedroom on first floor or a room that can be changed into bedroom. (at least one mom will leave with us by some time next year)
2 family spaces
3-4 bedrooms
lots closets
some area for a deck
3 bathrooms

 

[usnuzuloose]

Oh my word I am freaking out! So I wasn't intending to buy so quickly but found a house we love in great neighborhood and almost new home. The owners very motivated to sell.
So we bought a house. We close in a few weeks. Oh my gosh..I'm going to own a home. Something of our own..


Oh and I guess I have a list now too.

A bedroom on first floor or a room that can be changed into bedroom. (at least one mom will leave with us by some time next year)
2 family spaces
3-4 bedrooms
lots closets
some area for a deck
3 bathrooms

Oh that is awesome!! Congrats!!

 

[lynxstch]

Yeah Tina and Matt--congratulations!

 

[lovin'fl]

Oh my word I am freaking out! So I wasn't intending to buy so quickly but found a house we love in great neighborhood and almost new home. The owners very motivated to sell.
So we bought a house. We close in a few weeks. Oh my gosh..I'm going to own a home. Something of our own..


Oh and I guess I have a list now too.

A bedroom on first floor or a room that can be changed into bedroom. (at least one mom will leave with us by some time next year)
2 family spaces
3-4 bedrooms
lots closets
some area for a deck
3 bathrooms

Congrats! And we also bought since last posted. We weren't wanting to buy as soon either. We just sold our house but it doesn't close until May. So we'll own both homes for about two months. Eeekkk! But this was THE perfect house too and in the neighborhood we wanted. It's a complete match to your list... except 2.5 baths instead of 3. And it's a townhome. I don't know about you, but I am a nervous wreck.... and will be until closing day on our home here (in May).

 

[QueenIsabella]

Congrats! When it's right, you know it. Now, deep breaths--you can do this! You'll be fine!

 

[Kitty 34]

Oh my word I am freaking out! So I wasn't intending to buy so quickly but found a house we love in great neighborhood and almost new home. The owners very motivated to sell.
So we bought a house. We close in a few weeks. Oh my gosh..I'm going to own a home. Something of our own..


Oh and I guess I have a list now too.

A bedroom on first floor or a room that can be changed into bedroom. (at least one mom will leave with us by some time next year)
2 family spaces
3-4 bedrooms
lots closets
some area for a deck
3 bathrooms

Congrats Tina!!! My middle DS and wife will be closing on their first home this coming Friday. It took them two years to find what they wanted so it's nice it didn't take you that long.

 

[scrapquitler]

When we buy our next house, I only have a few 'musts' -- big pantry in or adjacent to the kitchen, an attached garage, a walk in closet in the master bedroom (I don't even care about Master bath), and a large sewing room. DH's priorities: a cathedral ceiling in the living room and good wifi.