If you’re a fresh graduate or a young professional looking to build a family, you may be tempted to move to a smaller city. Cheaper real estate, lighter traffic, friendlier neighborhoods, and healthy job markets you can explore are big reasons to move to less populated areas.
On the flip side, big cities offer more due to their size. In San Antonio or Phoenix alone, you can walk five steps out of your apartment and find five different restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.
But before you drop serious cash for any house or condo for sale in Eagle Mountain or any other cities in the U.S., learn what you need to inspect or decide if you really want an Olympic-sized swimming pool near you.
Should You Buy a House or a Condo?
A house is a great investment for a couple who values privacy and a wide space they can build on. Having a house is also great if they plan to have children. Condo owners should make do with the size of their unit and ask for permission to do any renovations to their building. On the bright side, some condos are cheaper than houses and do not involve mortgage, land transfer tax, home insurance, and other fees associated with owning and buying a home.
What Do You Need to Watch Out For?
Condo and home buyers need to inspect their prospective properties for problems that can cost a lot of money to fix. These include mold, drainage, and wiring issues, as well as hidden structural damages. Condo owners should also be aware of the maintenance requirements of the building. Even if your unit is nice and tidy, a building with a failing roof or subpar fire alarm system is never a good choice.
First-time homebuyers should also never start looking for a property without a buyer’s agent. Property agents help negotiate prices, ensure that each house is inspected, and help you find as many properties for sale as possible.
Do I Need to Consider the Location and Amenities?
Location is a big deal if you’re moving out of your school dorm or childhood house to be closer to work. Remember to keep a close watch on the traffic situation in your area, and if you can manage it, try not to move to any of the 10 most-traffic congested cities in the U.S.
Even if you think you won’t use them, it’s good to know what amenities your condominium or neighborhood has. Sports-oriented home seekers may prefer having a gym in their building or just a few streets away from their unit. People with big families or friends may want a neighborhood or building that’s okay with loud noises and parties.
Moving into the right house, regardless if it’s a bungalow or a unit in a high-rise building, can affect your life greatly. A temporary house may be your home forever and what seems like a great place to stay can become a nightmare in just a week. Be sure to inspect any potential home and rethink your choices deeply before deciding.
