Choosing the "right home" can provide both a solid investment as well as an optimal lifestyle experience for you and your family!

When choosing just the "right" home for you and your family, be sure you are getting the right home at the right price that fits your individual lifestyle. At RE/MAX Premier Realty we've assembled a unique set of guidelines to help you avoid some more common and costly mistakes. Use this guide to help you facilitate your thought process and make your best decision.

Location

Choosing the right location is of course subjective to you and your family’s needs. It is important to consider that certain locations will retain higher resale values than others or offer certain amenities that may be important to your families lifestyle.

Access to key routes, shopping and major work “hubs” also contribute to a desirable location. Your RE/MAX Premier Realty associate will review with you in detail the benefits of various locations within the Greater Fredericksburg area.

Price Range (How to choose it)

We recognize every family has a budget and we will work hard to keep our search within your desired range. Here are a few critical considerations for your consideration when determining your budget range.

• How many people in the household are working? Will this change in the near future, (e.g. Pregnancy, etc.)?
• When buying a home on a 30 year mortgage, what is a “safe” pay increase to factor in? Under buying can lead to early selling, moving and re-purchasing. We have found that it is a good idea to consider your future earning potential to determine how it may affect your home choice.
• Will the home you select grow with you? If not it may be better to stretch your budget to allow for a home that you can stay in longer.
• Will there be any remodeling costs to consider?
• With its strong tax benefits, home ownership and real estate has proven to be one of the best investments over the long term. It may be worth discussing with a non-biased financial expert the benefits of investing in your own property in lieu of other higher tax and lower yield options.

Neighborhood

Your neighborhood and neighbors themselves will surely impact your lifestyle and should be an important consideration when choosing your home. In addition, neighborhoods as a whole tend to share appreciation patterns, especially in well planned and “friendly” neighborhoods. Be sure that you drive through your prospective neighborhood to get a feel for it!

Home Styles

Choosing a home style that is favorable to the way you live and your family’s life style is a major factor in choosing just the right home. Whether its wrapped porches or traditional colonial styles that catch your fancy, make sure you choose a home that meets your family’s expectations.

Be sure to ask your RE/MAX Premier Realty associate about the resale value of various styles, as many styles within the Greater Fredericksburg Area tend to yield higher resale values and are more “in demand”.

Schools and Shopping

Having a good school system and nearby schools can make you confident that your family will get the education you desire. Even if you don’t have children attending the schools, it can be a great selling point for future owners of your home. Convenient shopping centers with grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, dry cleaners, and etc. can make your life easier by having all the necessities right at your fingertips.

Be sure to pick a home that’s in an up and coming ‘hot spot’ or one that is in an area with nearby childcare centers and family restaurants. Your agent can guide you into the area that has the conveniences important to your lifestyle.

Appreciation Potential

When choosing the right home you should evaluate your home’s potential appreciation and resale value. This starts with the price the market is bearing, the asking price, buying price, and transcends into other relevant factors such as your home style, builder, neighborhood, HOA, nearby amenities, etc. Review all of the appreciation “factors” with your RE/MAX Premier Realty agent to make sure you are making a solid investment.

Floor plan (How will it work with you/your family?)

The right floor plan should be an extension of your lifestyle. Pay careful attention to the areas you spend the most time in and how they interact with other areas of your home. First floor masters may be better suited for certain buyers; where an open floor plan may be best for those who entertain a lot. Either way, make sure you choose the floor plan that suits your needs, despite how much you may love other aspects of the home.

Room for expansion?

Check to make sure your home meets any setbacks requirements to add a future addition, pool, garage, etc. Families tend to outgrow homes quickly, and in many instances remodeling your home is a great alternative to moving. You can check your set back, flood plane restrictions, septic restriction, etc. at the zoning division of your county. You may also want to request a “plat” from the homeowner to review with a site engineer.

Home Maintenance (What might need to be replaced soon?)

All homes have materials and fixtures that may need to be replaced…but some of the major ones should be carefully evaluated. These include:

• Roof – How many layers of shingles, how long ago was it replaced? Most roofs last 10-15 years
• HVAC – How old is it? What is its energy rating? How many zones and how old is each zone? Are they gas or electric? Also ask to see copies of the bills during peak seasonal use. You can use this information to compare with the communities average by calling your utility company.
• Washer, Dryer, Refrigerator
• Siding and Windows

Safety Concerns

Be sure to discuss your safety concerns with your RE/MAX Premier Realty associate. They have local knowledge and can quickly point you to the right local resource for all of the latest crime information. The Greater Fredericksburg Area is well policed and features some of the best fire an emergency services around. We are fortunate to have two “life flight” helicopter transport services to ensure speedy access to the regions best trauma facilities.