On the Move Again – Home Search Tips

While Jessie has been busy slaving away on her beautiful One Room Challenge (ORC) Workspace (check out it out here), things over here have been getting very interesting. It looks like the Army has finally given us the official word that our family is on the move yet again this summer to the great state of Texas. This is, according to my husband, the last move. We will see how that goes…tune back in about 2 years from now to see if this is true!!

Anyways, with a big move comes lots and lots of logistical stuff that must be taken care of. First up on our long list, a big one, is a home search. Yes, we are going to be homeowners again. So exciting and a little bit daunting…but it will be nice to have our own space again after renting for the last 2 years and the 3 before that in a tiny German apartment.

Over the years we have purchased 3 homes, now 4. I feel like I should be so good by now, right? Well, I have definitely learned a few things and have come to realize what I don’t like. What I do like is the question??? I am more confident in our abilities as homeowners to fix, paint and pretty much make things look better, so that helps. A whole renovation, not so much. After narrowing down our home search online Cary and I headed on a trip to Texas to do some house-hunting, alright there might have been a stop at Magnolia Silos. I just couldn’t help myself…Joanna would approve!!

I thought I would share some of the things I have learned throughout all our home searches. While I try my best to be organized and well researched it is always a struggle for me to make a decision on most things and house-choosing is no exception. It can be very overwhelming but hopefully these tips will help guide the way.

• Set a budget – Really this one is my husband’s tip, but it is true. I just struggle with sticking to his budget. It is a tough balance between deciding what you can afford and what you want at least for me. But in the end, you don’t want to struggle each month, so it is really important to be realistic and honest about how much to spend. Why can’t we all be millionaires??
• On the same note, don’t forget about the other costs that are included in the monthly mortgage, like property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees. These added costs can really up your monthly payments significantly.
• Research the area thoroughly – make sure to look up schools and neighborhoods. I do as much as I can online, but there really is nothing like being in the area and getting a feel for it. It makes a big difference in what neighborhood you choose. I went to Texas with one area in mind and decided on one I didn’t even know about until we got there. The website www.niche.com is very helpful with schools and areas in general.
• Get a good Real Estate Agent – make sure you get a good vibe from your agent and you feel comfortable with how they handle business. This makes a huge difference in your confidence level of the process. We met a great agent in Virginia when we thought this might be the place, she just really understood us and what we were looking for and showed us houses not even on the market yet.
• Be proactive in your research – don’t rely on your real estate agent to send you listings. Look on Realtor.com, Zillow, your agents’ site, any Facebook page in the area you can find. You never know what is out there. I emailed an admin on the neighborhood Facebook site with my questions and got the answers I needed. There are so many resources available now.
• Research loans and your options – VA loans are great but may not work for you. Don’t just go with whomever your agent recommends. It could really make a difference in your monthly rate and payment.
• Get an inspection – but know it may not tell you every hidden problem in your potential new house. The inspectors can only see so much and don’t go into the walls, so some problems can get past them. Just try to be as observant as you can when walking through the house. Look for signs of leaks or damage or anything that may be a red-flag.
• Know your must haves before you start looking – I know this sounds like something from an HGTV show, but it really is true. Do you want a fixer-upper, turn-key, something in the middle, or lots of yard, what kind of neighborhood, commute times??? There are so many questions to ask yourself before looking at houses. Knowing your most important features ahead of time will help you narrow down the list as you look at houses. I am really into space and neighborhoods and after moving so much am way more willing to put the work into fixing up a house aesthetically, so I don’t want complete turn-key.

Buying a house is a huge risk, but one that can be so amazing and a big life achievement when done the right way with lots of thought and even more research. Every house we have owned has taught me something. At this point we have purchased 2 new construction, one house and one townhouse and now 2 previously owned homes. Each one has had pluses and minuses for all different reasons. Every home has its own quirks and sometimes it takes time to fall in love with your home and to make it feel like your own. Homeownership is truly one of life’s great adventures.

So here it is…..(that is a drumroll)

I would like to refer to this as the before shot. There is so much work to be done…Jessie start planning!!!

If you have any awesome house-hunting tips, we would love to hear them. Just comment below and be sure to check out our Facebook page and Instagram as well.

Happy House-Hunting!!