College city conveniences with a neighborly, small
town feel, Bryan-College Station is an excellent place to find your first home.
Cost of living in these twin cities is nearly 4% lower than the national
average and the cities combined ranked ranked third in Forbes’
top ten small cities for jobs. Whether you recently graduated from Texas A&M or
you decided to get a home of your own in the area or you just felt Texas
calling you, here are some things to consider when searching for your first
home:
What do you hope to get out of your first home?
Chances are, your first home won’t be
your last home, whether in College Station or elsewhere. Your housing needs
will change as your life changes, so try not to think of it as being married to
the home you’ll buy forever. Think about what you need right now. Not a
wishlist of amenities you would like, although that’s helpful, too, but a
general idea of your necessities.
Are you a young professional with an
active social life? Recently graduated from college? It might make more sense
for you to live in the heart of the city, where there’s more to do. Is it just
you or you and a significant other, or do you want this to be a home where you
can start a family? Will you have guests over often enough that you can use an
extra bedroom? These are all things to consider when it comes to the size and
location of your home.
What can you afford?
Be realistic about this, and then set
your budget a little lower, because you never know when unexpected costs will
make you go over budget. Compare the costs from different neighborhoods. If
your budget is on the smaller side, you might want to consider living in the
Brazos Valley area outside of the city, and just driving into the city when
necessary. You can buy a fixer upper at a more reasonable cost than a move-in
ready home, but remember that the renovations will cost time and money, as
well. It also might be worth it to look into a Down Payment Assistance Program and see if you qualify for
financial assistance in buying your first home.
Do you want to be part of a Homeowners Association (HOA)?
I’ve covered this in an early blog post, but really, it comes down
to personal preference. If you like to live in a nice, neat neighborhood, it
might be worth the extra cost. If you prefer to just focus on your house and
let everyone else worry about theirs, you probably don’t need an HOA. Not all
HOAs are the same, so if you do decide to go with an HOA, make sure you find
one that’s right for you.
Do you need a home inspection before buying?
Unless
you are a professional home inspector and therefore capable of performing your
own home inspection, yes, you do. Remember, you’re going to
be living in this house hopefully for a few years, at least. Little quirks that
might not seem like a big deal or might be downplayed by the current owner
could become quite the irritation as time goes on. A home inspector will
thoroughly examine the house for code compliance and tell you exactly what
you’re getting into before you make the purchase.
Do you need a realtor?
Yes,
and an experienced realtor at that. A realtor is an
expert in the neighborhood and the best equipped person for finding your home
needs within your budget. She also extensive knowledge in the surrounding
neighborhoods you might not have considered but might fit your needs. Finally,
she can go to bat for you with the homeowner to get the best deal on your
future home.
Remember,
you may purchase a handful of homes in your lifetime, but realtors makes a
career out of finding the perfect homes for their clients. Call your
Bryan-College Station realtor today to hear all about the parks and restaurants
waiting for you in the perfect city for your first home.
Home For Sale in College Station TX
Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!
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