On the path towards buying your first home, it’s often overwhelming to see all of the features available for you to choose from. You’re in a great position to customize your options to meet your needs, but you also need to take care with making the right types of selections. You’ll want to stretch your budget as much as possible so you can get everything you need while still living comfortably.

We’ve put together a list of some of the top features that first-time buyers should focus on in their search.

Affordability

Your home needs to be affordable for your family, and it can be hard to find that balance. Often, the bank has a maximum monthly amount they’ll lend you, but that amount can be high for many families. You need to carefully look at your own budget to determine what you can afford, then be smart about choosing a home that fits within that budget. Fortunately, most builders are good about working with customers to get them the homes they want at prices they can afford. By choosing where you spend the money in your home, you can adjust the price to meet your needs.

Energy Efficiency

Sometimes, paying all of the “extra” bills that come with homeownership can be a shock to first-time buyers, especially when costs like heating and waste disposal have previously been included in the rent bill. To minimize your costs, make sure you’re choosing things that are energy-efficient. Luckily, most new homes are going to be far more energy-efficient than resale homes.

A Great Community

You hear again and again how important location is when choosing real estate, and it’s especially true when you’re building a new home because you’ll likely be planning to stay in this home for quite a while. Choose a community that’s convenient for you. It should be easy for you to get to work and easy to get the shopping done. You’ll also want to look for features like playgrounds and walking trails, especially if you have kids or plan to have them at some point. These things can all increase your satisfaction greatly, so it’s smart to pay attention.

Future Possibilities

Too many people focus on buying a home that’s right for their current needs without paying enough attention to what will happen in the future. You’ll be spending many years in your new home, so it’s wise to choose a home that will fit the life that you’ll have 10 years from now. For instance, do you plan to have more kids? You might need more bedrooms. Are you thinking about getting a pet or two? You might appreciate a mudroom or sliding doors to a backyard patio with a spacious backyard. Are your kids getting ready to move away to college? You might not need as much space as you think. If you don’t plan for the future, you could end up disappointed with your home in just a few years.

Beautiful and Functional Bathrooms and Kitchens

If you have some extra money to splurge, think about spending it on the kitchen and bathrooms. Things like larger cabinets, quartz or granite countertops, and tile backsplashes add function and beauty to the space. It’s easy to renovate rooms like the living room or bathroom with a fresh coat of paint and some new furniture, but kitchen and bathroom renovations can be a lot more expensive to add in later on. Since it’s harder to make these changes later, try to include them in your original build.

New(er) Materials and Appliances

When you move into a home, you don’t want to have to immediately spend money on repairs. Fortunately, when you choose a new home build, you will be covered by the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. This is why those thinking about buying resale homes need to pay particular attention and decide if it’s really worth the risk. Anything can happen and you won’t be covered.

If you’re close to buying your first home, you’re probably feeling a lot of stress about your decisions. However, by focusing on the things that you need the most and will give you the most bang for your buck, you’ll be able to find something you’ll be proud to call home. We encourage you to talk to one of our Area Managers about all of the options you have when you choose Sterling as your builder.

Photo credit: happy couple