Neighborhood or House? How to Set Your Priorities

In a perfect world, every buyer could afford the house of their dreams in a neighborhood they adore. In reality, most buyers need to compromise on something when they buy a home, particularly their first home.

A Remax Realtor can give you expert advice on home values and often can show you homes in communities that you didn’t know about or that you hadn’t considered. In the end, though, you need to set your priorities so you can decide which home to buy.

Start With a List

At the first buyer consultation, your Remax Realtor should ask you to make a list of everything you’re looking for in a home — including such things as the number of bedrooms and baths, the placement of the kitchen, the size of the yard, and your preferred location near a particular school, your job, your favorite restaurants or public transportation.

If you’re buying with a spouse or partner, you should each make a separate list and then compare notes. Avid watchers of HGTV programs know that both partners rarely agree on every feature, so step two is to talk about which features are mandatory and which are optional.

As soon as you’ve met with a lender and established your comfort level with a budget you can start matching your wish list with what’s actually available in your area.

 

Which Comes First, the Community or the Property?

If, like most buyers, you’re not finding the perfect home in your ideal neighborhood, you’ll have to decide whether it’s more important to be in a particular location or a particular size and type of home.

If you decide that location matters more but you can’t afford to buy in your preferred area, you have several options:

 

• Look for a smaller home or a smaller lot. If you can live in two bedrooms instead of three, or forgo a large back yard, you may find something affordable.

• Switch to a different home type. If single-family homes in the area are too pricey, you might find a town home with similar living space that’s less costly. You can consider a condominium, but don’t forget to factor in the condo association fees to see how that fits into your budget.

• Look for a home in less-than-perfect condition. While you need to be careful about how much cash is required to renovate a property, a home that needs some minor repairs or has flaws that you can live with for a few years can be affordable. You can also look into financing renovations with an FHA 203k loan.

• Rent a little longer while you save for a home. If you can take on a second job to build up a larger down payment, this could be a good decision, but be aware that home prices could rise more before you’re ready to buy and could still be out-of-reach.

• Look for a lease-to-own arrangement.  Some homeowners may be willing to negotiate a lease-purchase agreement so that some of your rent is credited as a down payment.

If you decide that the type of home is more important than a particular neighborhood, you should work with a Remax Realtor with expertise in your local market who can help you identify other communities where you might find affordable homes. An experienced realtor not only can show you different locations but can also talk to you about why some communities have higher home values than others, such as being near commuter routes or a having a reputation for excellent schools. It’s important to make an educated decision about where you buy a home so that you maximize your potential for continued property value.

 

http://www.realtor.com/advice/neighborhood-or-house-how-to-set-your-priorities/#.Utigo7B3uM8

Welcome to Wisconsin Real Estate
RE/MAX REALTY CENTER, Real Estate in Wisconsin

Thank you for visiting our REMAX REALTY CENTER, Real Estate in Wisconsin website.
Please feel free to contact us for any of your residential or commerical real estate needs including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home if you are a buyer.


Our real estate focus in the  Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, Lake Country, Jefferson County, Dane County, Dodge County and Washington County areas. Several agents in the office also their IRES designation (International Real Estate Specialist) so they can assist you with all your real estate needs in Wisconsin, the USA or anywhere in the WORLD!


When you are seriously looking or just browsing at real estate in Wisconsin, RE/MAX REALTY CENTER, Real Estate in Wisconsin, is the BEST resource to help you with all your needs and questions, whether a first time home buyer, relocating to or from the beautiful LAKE COUNTRY area, looking to invest or explore foreclosure opportunities or just thinking ahead to the future. 

Lisa Bear is the broker/owner of RE/MAX Realty Center, Real Estate in Wisconsin (262-893-5555) is an experienced real estate agent in Waukesha County and the entire Milwaukee Metro area. Lisa thinks "outside of the BOX" and encourages her agents to do so as well. If you want creative options and exceptional marketing and service - look no further! 

The RE/MAX Realty Center Office, has experienced agents with expertise in luxury home marketing, lake property experts, foreclosure and short sale specialists, investment and property management brokers and commercial brokers. 

Our agents areas of service include, but are not limited to:
The prospering communities of Waukesha County including Delafield, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Waukesha, Sussex, Wales, New Berlin, Dousman, North Prairie, Mukwonago, Chenequa, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Okauchee, Eagle, Muskego and Merton. 


Great municipalities in Milwaukee County including Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Glendale, Franklin, Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Greendale, Shorewood, Oak Creek, St. Francis, West Allis and Whitefish Bay. 


The hometown favorites of Washington County, Jefferson County and Dodge County including Watertown, Hartford, West Bend, Germantown, Jackson, Richfield, Ashippun, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Slinger and Erin.

 

There is no place like "WISCONSIN LAKES"

If lake living is what you desire then Lake Country is the place to be! If you are thinking about buying waterfront property in Wisconsin, a little time invested in learning about waterfront living will pay back sizeable dividends in matching your expectations to realities. 


 Lake Country Living on one of Waukesha Countys great lakes as a full timer or vacationer is a must and there are some great lakes to choose.  Nagawicka Lake, Pine Lake, Oconomowoc Lake, Beaver Lake, Okauchee Lake, Pewaukee Lake, Moose Lake, North Lake, Lake Keesus, Lac La Belle, Upper Nashotah, Lower Nashotah, Upper Genesee, Lowe Genesee, Middle Genesee, Upper Nemahbin, Lower Nemahbin, Fowler Lake, Golden Lake, Pretty Lake, Silver Lake, Waterville Lake, and Crooked Lake. Great lakes of the surrounding area also include Lake Michigan, Rock Lake, Big Cedar Lake, Little Cedar Lake, Pike Lake and Lake Ripley.

Your best source for Lake Country Living is RE/MAX REALTY CENTER, Real Estate in Wisconsin

 

RE/MAX REALTY CENTER, Real Estate in Wisconsin, 262-567-2455 or 262-893-5555,  offer online markets, listing package and FOR SALE BY OWNER (FSBO) options, MLS search access, buyer agency and marketing that will exceed your expectations, all with outstanding service!  

 

Your home purchase or sale is likely your largest investment, be sure you have an good agent you can trust! Real Estate in Wisconsin is an excellent investment, prices are superb, selection is great and rates are outstanding!!!

 

Ask us about our preferred vendors -- from lenders to help you finance your new purchase to contractors to help maintain!