{"id":139271,"date":"2022-06-09T14:35:13","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T18:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=139271"},"modified":"2024-12-30T13:17:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T18:17:21","slug":"focus-the-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/focus-the-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"Focus the Hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding the right place is the most difficult step in the home buying process. Keep these things in mind to help hone your search.<\/p>\n

NEW (NOT FOREVER) HOME<\/h4>\n

First-time buyers might want to look for a starter home (length of stay: three to five years) instead of their dream home, so they can save money and build equity.<\/p>\n

SQUARE FOOTAGE (NOT ROOM COUNT)<\/h4>\n

In the past, counting bedrooms and bathrooms would help you get a sense of how big a home is. But today\u2019s construction methods and fix-and-flips allow builders and remodelers to be creative with tight spaces. \u201cThink about how spacious you want your home to feel,\u201d says Joseph Magsaysay of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Preferred Properties in St. Louis. \u201cUsable square footage is a better indicator of roominess and comfort level than bedroom and bath counts alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

LOCATION (SHORT AND LONG TERM)<\/h4>\n

If you plan to stay in your home for longer than five years, think beyond nearby coffee shops and proximity to work. Also look at long-term needs like schools and hospitals that become more important as you age.<\/p>\n

SOURCE: BETTER HOMES & GARDENS<\/em><\/strong>\u00ae <\/strong>MAY 2022 ISSUE <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"