Your  Next Home is Waiting

One:
Research city neighborhoods yourself by contacting local the police department or drive around during different times of the day.

Two:
Expect lower maintenance costs with a brand-new home.

Three:
When interest rates are low, opt for a fixed mortgage.

Four:
You can deduct on that years tax return points paid by either party on the purchase of your own residence.

Five:
Pay attention to the original listing date of the homes you inspect; sellers tend to be more flexible in the price the longer the home is on the market.

Six:
Buying a house whose style is uniquely individual will probably minimize rather than maximize its resale value because the house will appeal to a somewhat more limited number of potential buyers.

Seven:
If you think you may need more space in the near future, be sure the house and lot will allow for expansion.

Eight:
A roof that complements the style of a home and is carefully maintained adds to the home's visual appeal and its resale value.

Nine:
Wood floors suggest warmth, quality, and good taste and are an asset when it comes time to sell a house.

Ten:
Always overlook paint, wallpaper, and carpet. These are inexpensive changes.

Eleven:
Even if the quality of a school district doesn't matter to you now, remember it might someday to another buyer.

Twelve:
Most home shoppers prefer a combination of ceramic tile and vinyl as a covering for bathroom walls, creating a positive effect on the house's resale value. Ceramic tile is usually installed wherever water comes in contact with the wall.

Thirteen:
Remember: trees enhance the beauty and value of a lot and house.

Fourteen:
Homes with a pleasant view of the horizon often sells at a premium above similar homes without the view.

Fifteen:
House size: If you buy a small or medium house for the neighborhood, the larger homes can help pull up your value. Buying what you need in a more prestigious neighborhood may provide more financial reward that getting what you want in a less desirable neighborhood.

Sixteen:
Three or four bedrooms houses are the most popular among homebuyers. There should always be at least two bathrooms, or the opportunity for 2 bathrooms via a finished basement.

Seventeen:
Walk in closets are extremely desirable for the master bedroom.

Eighteen:
Garages are always a plus, especially with Wisconsin winters.

Nineteen:
Laundry facilities should be located somewhere where it doesn't create an eyesore. Think about whether you want to walk up and down stairs when carrying loads of laundry.

Twenty:
Family and social activities often center around the kitchen, so this is the most important room of the house.

Twenty-one:
Fireplaces are nice to have. A fireplace in the family room will be used often. A fireplace in the living room may be nice, but you pay extra for it and will probably rarely use it.

Twenty-two:
Swimming pools do not provide as much added value as they once did. Buy a home with a pool for your own enjoyment, not as an investment.

Twenty-three:
Basements with walk out exposure add approximately $10,000 to sales price.

Twenty-four:
Most buyers sell within 5 years of owning.