Study: As American Homes Get Bigger, Apartments Shrink
November 30, 2023
Even if youโre excited about where youโre going, moving is never fun. But if you follow these tips, youโll find moving easier the next time you and your family have to pick up and go.
Read on for tips on how to plan and pack for your move.
The decision to purchase a home is often considered a life-changing moment. But itโs never as simple as deciding that youโre ready to go, choosing the perfect house, and moving your belongings from one place to the next.
Deciding to move can be quite a process, and dozens of factors affect how things play out along the way.
Fortunately, there are ways to make any move easier. Weโve compiled a guide to help you get started on the right foot.
However urgent your desire to claim your dream home as your own, take time to examine your goals and motives before you hit the real estate market.
Keep reading for our tips for in-depth move planning, or watch this video to learn about stress-free moving tips:
Do you plan to have kids? Would you prefer to own a host of pets? Thinking of investing in a home with plenty of property? Ponder the goals youโd most like to achieve in the long run, and consider how a move could put you in a better position to make them happen.
Dig deeper into how a new home will complement your life. Growing families may benefit from a larger home thanks to perks like increased privacy, more play space, and shorter bathroom wait times. You may prefer a property with a garage that can accommodate your householdโs vehicles and provide a convenient project space.
Specific factors to consider on this front may include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, interior square footage, the state and layout of the propertyโs lawn, parking and energy-efficiency measures.
Your new home itself is only a portion of what that home actually has to offer. You'll be the neighbor to a surrounding community, which has to be taken into consideration. Parents will likely prefer a home within a reputable school district, and active homeowners may lean toward a quiet neighborhood thatโs easy to explore on foot or via bicycle. Explore not only the immediate neighborhood, but also the homeโs proximity to stores and other points of interest you may find necessary.
Oftentimes, a great community will go hand in hand with a wealth of career options. Select a home and move to an area with plenty of job opportunities that you wonโt have to worry about a shortage. Job availability will change with the times, but donโt launch into a sale unless youโre certain you can find an area with high demand for your skill sets.
Mortgages are a common type of installment loan. Like most other types of loans, your credit scores play a major role in the interest rates you end up paying throughout the span of your mortgage. Choosing to buy a home before improving your credit scores may not be the right move if youโd prefer to minimize the price youโre paying for the home over time.
Youโre almost certainly going to have (or want) to pay a several-thousand-dollar down payment for your home.
Itโs seldom simple to save this much money. Thatโs not to say there arenโt ways to minimize what youโll pay up front, but you should be ready and willing to shell out a down payment if you think itโs a good time to move. Voluntarily paying a larger down payment can be beneficial in the long run, as it can help reduce your monthly payments.
Not sure where to begin? Several savings options give high returns without requiring a huge initial deposit. Certain online-only savings accounts, for example, offer accessible savings accounts with interest rates that are far higher than those available through brick-and-mortar institutions.
A homeโs face value can seem sky-high as it is, and itโs not the only thing youโll be paying for as a new homeowner. The home-buying process tends to involve numerous fees and expenses worth looking into before you make any concrete decisions.
Plus, once youโve bought the home, youโll have to deal with a host of expenses that you may not have come across in previous living situations. These can span from roof repairs to lawn maintenance and beyond.
Packing can be a stressful part of your move prep-work, but here's a list of helpful things to remember as you get started:
Now that you've planned and packed for your big day, here are some things to remember on moving day:
Study: As American Homes Get Bigger, Apartments Shrink
November 30, 2023
Study: The Best U.S. Suburbs to Buy Your First Home
December 31, 2023
A Guide to Finding Housing For The Previously Incarcerated
November 20, 2023
Everything You Need to Know About Being a Good Neighbor
November 20, 2023
7 Tips for a Smooth Move During the Holidays
February 12, 2024
Cities With the Largest Homeownership Gap for Minorities
February 9, 2024