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Buying a home in Orange County can be an extremely exciting time, particularly if you are moving here for the first time, as there are many things to see and do in this area. Before you begin your house hunt, however, there are some items you will want to consider and decisions that you will have to make. Taking the time to make certain decisions now will not only make your house hunt easier, but also help you go into the process as a more informed home buyer. Here are a few ideas you should consider before buying a new home.

Consider Your Must-Have List

When you begin looking at homes, you may be overwhelmed by how many options available. It can then be helpful to go into the process with a must-have list, as this will help you, and your realtor, narrow down the options available to you. The most important considerations are size (what is the minimum/maximum square footage of your ideal home?), how many bedrooms you need (do you need a home office or are you considering adding to your family in the near future?) and whether or not outdoor living space is a priority. Additionally, you will want to consider what extra features may be deal-breakers if they are not in your home, such as a fireplace or a swimming pool. Having these in mind will make the home buying process much easier overall.

Scope Out the Neighborhood

You will want to consider how important location is to you and if there is a particular town or neighborhood you imagine yourself living in. Are there amenities a certain town provides that you cannot live without? How important to you is being in a good school district? Do some research and decide what parts of Orange County you are and are not willing to live in. Additionally, once you have your house search narrowed down to a couple of options, you will want to visit those streets and neighborhoods at various times of the day and on different days of the week, to get a better feel for what living there would be like. Is the neighborhood too loud? Are the people friendly? Do you feel safe walking around there at night? These are good questions to ask yourself before choosing a home, as you are also choosing the neighborhood you will be living in for the foreseeable future.

Consider How Much Work You Want to Do

It is also important to consider how much work you are willing to put into your new home. While a fixer-upper may be good for some, you will want to seriously consider how much time and money you have to put into a home when looking at the options available to you. You will want to consider whether a cheaper home that needs work, or a home that needs no work at all, is more important to you. It is particularly important to look at the condition of the roof, the HVAC system and the kitchen and bathrooms in the homes you look at, as these upgrades can be particularly costly. This is where it can be beneficial to invest in a newly built home. When you purchase a new construction home, you can feel rest-assured knowing nothing will require work on your part in the near future, or for many years to come.

Are you looking for a new home in Orange County, Long Beach or the Los Angeles metro area? Brandywine Homes is opening six new communities this year offering a combined 265 single-family homes and town homes. If you would like more information, sign up for our interest list here.