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How to Find the Perfect House to Fit for Your Needs
If you're house hunting, that beautiful two-story with a sprawling landscape and a pool may be hard to overlook, but is that really what you need for your lifestyle? Buying a bigger house than you really need can impact your finances, your family's needs, and your future goals and plans. While looking for your dream home, our real estate agents suggest you consider some important factors in determining how much house you need.
- Your Finances
The bottom line is that a house with more square footage will cost you more money in upfront fees, monthly mortgage payments, annual property taxes, homeowner's insurance, monthly utility bills, and ongoing repairs and maintenance costs. To find the right size house that you can comfortably afford, closely examine your monthly income and debt, your family obligations, and your future goals. While buying a larger home may be tempting, stretching your budget beyond your comfort zone will create more stress and hinder your current lifestyle and future plans. - Your Preferred Lifestyle
Your preferred lifestyle has a big impact on where you choose to live and the cost per square foot of your home. You can expect to pay more per square foot for a home in a town with coastal appeal, waterfront marinas, and beach activities. Those popular outdoor amenities will cost you more money. If you don't need a coastal lifestyle, you could potentially find a larger home on a bigger lot with a lower per-square-foot cost. - The Size of Your Family
According to the U.S. Census data in 2021, the average square footage of a single-family home was 2,273 square feet. Today, the average square footage of a home is larger than ever, 2,687 square feet, yet fewer people live in the home. Based on the size of your family, use these helpful tips to determine how many square feet you may need:
- Large eat-in kitchen – 400 square feet
- Family room – 550 square feet
- Main bedroom – 225 square feet
- Main bathroom – 160 square feet
- Bedroom for each child – 135 square feet
- Guest bedroom and bathroom – 175 square feet
- Home office – 300 square feet
- Laundry room – 125 square feet
- Your Future Goals and Plans
Although some homebuyers stay in their homes for a lifetime, the real estate market indicates that today's younger buyers tend to move or relocate more often due to income and job changes, family growth, and extra space requirements. Before you purchase a home, think about how long you plan to stay in the home, as well as your age and your future plans:
- If you're a first-time home buyer, planning a family, or have small children, you may plan to stay in your home for a while to create stability and build equity. Look for a home with adequate square footage for current family needs or a home offering expansion possibilities for future family growth.
- If you're a middle-aged buyer or considering retirement, you may want to consider downsizing to a smaller home with less square footage. With children who have moved out of the house, you likely no longer use all of the rooms in your home. Downsizing to a smaller home will reduce household expenses and give you more financial freedom.
If you're considering a move to Long Island, contact us so we can help you find the perfect home for your family's needs in a desirable community.
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