Things to Look for When Buying a Starter Home

By, Lisa Roberts

Starter homes are a great way to start your life as a homeowner. After all, they're typically much easier to take care of than forever homes and usually cheaper. However, they also come with fewer amenities and are generally much smaller. Still, a starter home is an excellent idea if you're a first-time homebuyer, no matter how you look at it. But, because of the fewer amenities, you need to know what to look for when buying a starter home. So, to help you out, we have put together a list of things to look for when buying a starter home, and we hope it helps you find the right home for you.

Condition

The first thing to look for when buying a starter home is its condition. Why? Well, the last thing you want is your first week of owning a home to deal with maintenance issues. Yes, knowing how to spot signs of damage and fix them is essential for homeowners, but it's not something you should do immediately after buying a house. Your starter home should be move-in ready and in a good enough state to not need repairs for at least a few months. This will give you time to get used to living in it and learn about proper home maintenance. Additionally, mortgage lenders are typically less willing to lend money for a damaged home. And besides, problems with the house are a common fear buyers face, so you want to ensure it's in good condition. Getting a professional home inspection before buying is the way to go.

The home’s longevity

Starter homes are called that for a reason: you won't stay in them forever. However, a starter home's longevity is just as crucial as a forever home's longevity. You still have to consider that you will likely spend at least a decade living in that house, even if you're going to move out eventually. So, consider everything carefully: the amenities, nearby school districts, public transport access, etc. It would be best if you enter into the house hunt while keeping in mind that you'll likely start a family in it. As such, you want to ensure that you can live in it comfortably for an extended period. Additionally, when moving out of your parents' house for the first time, you should prepare mentally and physically for leaving your old home. Moving into your own home can be both exciting and terrifying, and when the time comes to move out, you need to be ready for it.

Affordability

Yes, starter homes are much more affordable than forever homes, but you still need to be careful with your budget. Think ahead that you'll be paying the mortgage for years to come. As such, you want to ensure you have the budget to afford the house. Additionally, you will have to think about property taxes, closing costs, moving costs, house maintenance, and potentially renovations down the line. Also, remember that there is going to be a down payment required for the mortgage. Even if starter homes are cheaper than forever homes, you must carefully consider your finances before committing. This can be difficult for first-time homebuyers, but if you take it slow and follow the six golden rules of first-time home-buying, you'll be fine. Remember, the main part of the process is not to rush because you can get overwhelmed when you do.

Location

Location is a vital part of finding a potential home, even when it comes to starter homes. You want to find somewhere where you can grow your family and your career. As such, you need somewhere where you can find opportunities for your employment and be close to places such as schools and parks. As a matter of fact, location is probably the most crucial part of buying a starter home. After all, if you find an excellent place to live, you can aim to find a forever home nearby down the line. Of course, this might mean you must move long-distance or interstate. And if you do, experts from Clean Cut Moving recommend that you rely on trusted professionals to get you there. The longer the distance, the more difficult the move can be, so hiring experienced professionals is your best choice for moving out.

How to make the process easier

Finding the right starter home by yourself can be pretty tricky. Buying a house for the first time can be overwhelming and stressful, so finding help is your best call. Doing research, setting expectations, and planning ahead of time all help, yes, but it can still get overwhelming. As such, your best bet to make the process much easier is to work with a real estate agent. Remember, once you decide on a location, find a realtor with experience in that area and work with them. An excellent real estate agent will be able to help you throughout the entire home-buying process. From finding a good home for you to helping you make an offer on it and finally helping you with closing on it. Additionally, if you're moving inter-state, consider looking into how to smoothly transition to a new state, as the transition can be overwhelming too.

Things to look for when buying a starter home – wrap up

If you don't know what you're looking for, you can expect to run into many potential problems when you are in the market for a starter home. As such, doing some research and deciding what you want out of your home is crucial. Finding a real estate agent you can trust makes the process much easier. An expert can help you narrow the search and guide you through the full process of buying a house. However, a few things to keep in mind make the whole process much more manageable. We hope that this list of things to look for when buying a starter home helps you find the right starter home for you, and we wish you a wonderful rest of your day.