By: Robyn Denson, Real Estate Broker, Home Base Washington Real Estate & Ken Levey, Attorney
So you’ve decided (or it has been decided for you) to start fresh in a new residence. When choosing a new home, there are a few factors that, if considered logically, can make your life easier and more convenient.
- Location of property in relationship to your work and your children’s school and activities. Do you want or need to be in your child’s current school district? What’s the commute to work going to be like for you?
- Location of property in relationship to your spouse. While getting as “far away as possible” might sound good now…if there are kids involved, living relatively close will make things easier for everyone.
- Cost of the property. Take into consideration your new one-person household income and goals you may have that need money. Are you thinking about going back to school? Starting a business? Doing some traveling? Spending a lot on housing can limit your opportunities.
- Size of the property. You may not need a home as big as your pre-divorce family home. Downsizing can provide you with some additional living income and a smaller home takes less maintenance. On the other hand, it’s important to take into consideration the needs of children and if you are thinking of starting a new relationship at some point in the future you may need to accommodate additional people in your home at some point.
- Character of the Neighborhood. If you have children, it may be best to choose a neighborhood that you would consider “kid friendly”, i.e. with sidewalks, other children and close to parks. Of course for some of you, your idea of “kid friendly” could be a more rural property with woods and plenty of room to run.
- Marketability of the property. If you don’t intend for your new home to be your “forever” (or decent long-term) house, you may want to choose something that has a broad market appeal for ease of re-sale in a few years.
Make a list of the ideal characteristics of your new home, find out from a financing professional (if necessary) what you can afford, and work with a reputable real estate broker to find a home that best fits your needs and those of your family. Making a logic-based housing decision now can make your life much more comfortable, convenient and affordable for the years to come.
Robyn Denson, a Real Estate Agent with Home Base Washington Real Estate (partnering with Better Properties Commencement Bay) assists individuals and families make the best housing decisions and negotiate the best housing deals. Primarily focused on real estate in Pierce and Kitsap counties, Robyn is known for her high-energy and absolute dedication to clients. For sellers, the fact that she comes from 20 plus years’ experience in marketing is a real bonus. For buyers, Robyn’s spirit of exploration and love for hunting out the absolute best properties for a buyer’s budget, translates into a tireless search for “just the right place”. Robyn also brokers commercial properties throughout the state of Washington. If you have questions about real estate, contact robyndenson@homebasewashington.com.
