How do I determine my housing needs?

Start by not letting yourself get overwhelmed by the choices and by not getting too emotional about the process. Look at it as an investment, and treat it as if you were making an investment in your family’s future. With that in mind, use the information gathered during your market research or from a real estate agent to see what types of homes are available in your market, then whittle down the choices based on your own preferences. For example, do you need a single-family home with a large yard? Would you prefer a lower-maintenance condominium? Do you need an extra bedroom for a home office? Do you have a preference on the number of bathrooms? Having all of these details nailed down before you start house hunting will result in a much more focused, efficient search.
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There are many variables that will come up during the homebuying process. Existing homes can be the biggest challenge, since they were built for someone else—someone who might not share your tastes. To avoid getting overwhelmed when you see the home that looks perfect on the outside but that has rooms painted purple with carpeting to match, ask yourself the following questions first:

1. How many bedrooms do I want?
2. How many bathrooms do I want?
3. What size kitchen would I prefer?
4. Do I want a new home or an existing home?
5. What type of home do I want? Single family? Town home? Condominium? Co-op?
6. How important are outdoor amenities like decks, lanais, pools, and patios? And, am I willing to add any of these if they don’t come with the existing home?
7. How important are indoor amenities like fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, and crown moldings?
8. Am I willing to do fix-up work (either myself, or by hiring someone) in the home such as painting walls, to make it right for me? (If not, then a home in ‘‘move-in condition’’ is your goal.)
9. How important is the home’s proximity to the following: other houses, the street or major intersections (for the noise and safety factor), my place of work, my children’s school, and our favorite activities (community pools, movie theaters, workout centers, etc.)?

Answering these nine straightforward questions should help you create a rough sketch of your desired home, and it should give you some indication of your ‘‘home hot buttons’’ (those issues of utmost importance to you, typically those that could ultimately make or break the deal). That’s not to say you can’t change your mind about wanting a pool if you find the right house with a large backyard with no pool, but it will give you some solid parameters to use when either viewing homes on your own or