Aside from the price tag, please consider these things before you make final decision to buy a home.
1. Safety. Be sure to drive around the area at night, and check the Internet for statistics on crime rate. Note that living in an unsafe neighborhood can affect your insurance premiums.
2. Location. How close is it to your office, the schools, the shopping centres, the airports? Remember to compute the change of transportation costs into your household budget. Consider also broadband access, ease of public transportation, and how future constructions will affect property value. Your conveyancer can also double check if your property is sitting near any roads that the city is planning to build.
3. Condition. Your conveyancer can arrange inspections to help you assess the real cost, and can use this to negotiate the selling price.
4. Size and structure. How many rooms? Do you want a garden? How important is privacy?
5. Health. Nearby chemical or processing plants can affect the soil and water. Your conveyancer can help you arrange for the necessary tests.
6. Style. Modern or historical? Cozy or elegant?
7. Resale value. Like any investment, your property should ideally increase in value over the years. But aside from these forecasts, factor in how easy it will be to sell the house when the time comes. For example, homes located near schools will always appeal to young families, so you won’t have any trouble finding a buyer. If the owner is selling below market rate, the property may not be as attractive as it seems.
more information