Finding the perfect house is a lot like finding the perfect partner or spouse. There’s always risk involved, and perfect often turns out to be, well, not quite so perfect. But if you know what to look for, take your time, and put in the effort, success is a lot more likely. But finding the perfect home is usually a lot easier than finding the perfect spouse, especially with these 8 tips to find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas.
1. Do Some Homework and Know Your Needs and Goals
If you really do want to find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas, then you’ll first need a good understanding of your needs and goals, especially with respect to where you want to live. Your perfect house located in the wrong area could turn out to be a disaster.
School District, Growth path, and Distance from Work are all god things to keep in mind.
2. Search for Style and Fit First
Next, consider what style of home of would be the best fit for you. Do you want a detached single-family home with all the maintenance chores that entails, or would you be happier in a sleek, modern townhouse? Do you want luxury finishings, or would you rather spend money on more space?
3. Know What You Can Afford
One of the important early steps to find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas is to determine exactly what you can afford by getting pre-approved for a loan. Beyond what the bank is willing to lend you, you’ll need to take into account your existing debt and other monthly payments. Your perfect house will be one you can afford.
4. Stay Within Your Budget
Then, when you get down to actual house hunting, you need to make sure you stay within your budget. Usually, this means that you should not start by looking at houses at the top of your price range because you may wind up taking on a mortgage that is just too heavy a financial burden. It may be better to have room in your budget for the other life expenses that inevitably come up.
5. Look Past the Flaws
An important tip to find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas is to look past the house’s flaws. Focus instead on the features you like and try to see the potential in the flaws. You don’t want to pass up what could easily become your dream home with just a little effort.
6. Consider New Construction
And another very important tip to find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas is to look at the New Homes being built, not just the resale market. Many of my clients have found that builders will work hard to help you create the “Perfect Home” so you aren’t stuck relying on the market to magically deliver what you’re looking for. Plus, you’ll deal with fewer maintenance issues and won’t feel the need to “update” the home as early. It’s already new!
Checkout my recent post about 3 Pros of Buying a New Construction Home in Northwest Arkansas.
7. Check Out the Neighborhood
And keep in mind that a house is perfect for you only if the neighborhood is too. You’ll probably live in the home for many years, so you need to be as happy with the neighborhood as you are with the house. So drive around, walk around, ask around, and check online. Do the schools, amenities, and neighbors suit you?
8. Look Toward the Future
The final, and perhaps most important, way to ensure you find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas is by carefully considering the future. That house may seem perfect now, but will it still be perfect when you add two children to your family? Or what if you decide to put in that huge in-ground pool you’ve always wanted, but the backyard is too small?
Now that you know the 8 tips to find your perfect house in Northwest Arkansas, you won’t have to endure any painful, fruitless blind dates, house-wise, that is. The opportunities are definitely out there, and with the right approach, you can find the house that meets your needs.