Things to Consider When Choosing a Home

Congratulations on taking the leap into homeownership! Now you, too, can enjoy the perks of owning a property that’s both a home and an asset.

Of course, choosing a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life. To make the right choice, keep these considerations in mind when looking at listings:

Price

The first step to finding a home is determining a realistic budget. Ideally, no more than 28% of your gross monthly income should go towards housing expenses, including mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and taxes. Winthrop realtors also recommend getting pre-approval from a mortgage lender to get a clear sense of how big a home loan you can get.

Location, Location, Location

A fixer-upper in a great neighborhood is preferable to a newly built home in an undesirable area. Why? You can upgrade just about everything in a house except its location. If you’re not happy with the community, you’re stuck with it. Look for a location that’s peaceful and close to good schools, business districts, places of worship, and leisure areas.

Home Site

You should also pay attention to the plot of land where a house stands. Does it have an expansive yard where your kids and pets can play? Does the home have a great view of the Methow Valley? Do the windows look straight into the neighbor’s house? Is the lot on a slope? These oft-overlooked things can have a huge impact on your day-to-day living.

Property Size

Just how big should your house be? The trick is to find a property that’s big enough to meet both your present and future needs. For instance, you may want to look at bigger single-family homes in Winthrop if you plan to have more kids in the near future. If nothing else, you can use the extra space as a guest room or a home office in the meantime.

Internet Coverage

With most people working from home these days, the last thing you want is to move into a new place only to find out it has spotty internet coverage. Luckily, sites like DecisionData.org can show you both the internet providers available in an area as well as their consumer ratings. When choosing an internet provider and plan, look at both the download and upload speeds; the latter is especially important if you do a lot of teleconferencing.

Traffic

No one wants to spend an hour in traffic just to get to the grocery store. Before deciding to move to a place, be sure to check the average commute time there. Winthrop, for instance, has a commute time of about 20 minutes—about 25% shorter than the national average.

If you’re looking to relocate to Washington State, the peaceful town of Winthrop is an excellent choice. With easy access to Methow Valley’s world-class ski facilities, it’s the ideal home for those who want leisurely living.

We’d love to tell you more about the Methow Valley real estate market. Give our brokerage a call at 509.996.2121 or send an email to info(at)cbwinthrop(dotted)com.