How to Choose a Neighborhood: 5 steps to finding a place where you belong

How to Choose a Neighborhood: 5 steps to finding a place where you belong

By Liz Gray, FrontDoor.com


STEP 5 -- Close the Case

You've chosen your neighborhood. Now for the hard part: finding a house you love. Luckily, you've narrowed it down to a few streets. Now, make sure to:
•Find out how much house you can afford. The amount of money a lender offers you is often more than you can truly afford to pay. Use FrontDoor's handy mortgage calculator to add all your current debts and see how much you can afford. You don't want to be stuck eating ramen noodles for the next 15 to 30 years.
•Compare your loan options. Ask yourself these basic questions to find out what mortgage is right for you. Decide between fixed and adjustable rate mortgages with FrontDoor's comparison tool. Then, try another tool to see which loan term is best for you.
•Draw up your vision of home. It worked for your neighborhood -- now think about what you want in a home. Write your own vision of home and stick to it while you're house hunting. Don't know a Craftsman home from a contemporary one? Learn about 18 different home styles and find the right one for you.

If you would like expert advise and representation in your next move, please contact me.

Suzanne O'Brien
(313) 516-6644
suzanneo@realestateone.com