If you are buying your first house, you are likely driven mainly by price.  But there are other important considerations that can help you find the perfect place.  

You may only be thinking of home size in terms of number of rooms or square footage, but a larger home costs more to maintain in heating and cooling. A real estate agent can usually determine monthly utility costs which helps with making a budget.   

If you have never had your own lawn to maintain, perhaps the lower-maintenance lifestyle offered by a condo or townhome is the better option, instead of a single-family home.  Unless your chosen community includes lawn care in the HOA, which will add to that monthly cost, it is best to avoid high maintenance care of the grounds.

It is always a good idea to think like a seller when buying. Most people change homes every few years, so the same questions you have about the floorplan or location are likely the same questions would-be buyers will be asking when you are ready to sell.   

Is there anything else that would adversely affect the value of the property?  Physical defects will be required to be disclosed but sometimes a “stigmatized” event such as a murder or suicide can greatly reduce the property value.   Realtors are not required to disclose this but if directly asked to a seller of a property, the answer must be truthful.  This does not apply to a natural death, only a violent or publicized event.  

This is one of many reasons why using a professional, experienced real estate agent is so important in your home search.  We, at Whippet Properties of Florida, either have all the answers or will get them for you!