It happened – you walked into a house and fell in love! But before you submit an offer on that home, there are a few things you should consider:
Location
No matter how much you might love a house, you can’t do anything about its location. Drive through the neighborhood and check out the local amenities. Can you imagine yourself living in this neighborhood? Raising your kids here?
You should also investigate any potential plans for development in the area where you want to buy. This is particularly important if the home you’re looking at backs up to open space or empty land. You will want to know if there are future plans to develop the area.
Layout
Many homes in San Diego are custom built or have been updated/expanded over the years. Sometimes that means the home has a strange or awkward floorplan. It also might mean that the functionality of the home has been conventionally reduced (a garage that has been converted into an extra room is a good example of this type of update). The home may also
have unpermitted square footage which may be a resale hindrance.
Maybe the quirks of your future home don’t bother you, but it’s important to consider the resale value and how others might view the home. If the house has been on the market for awhile, that can be a good indicator that others buyers find the home offputting in some way.
Proximity to a Busy or Noisy Road
It’s a fact that no matter how desirable a home is, most buyers don’t want to live near a busy or noisy road. This could be because they have kids or pets or just don’t want to hear the sound of traffic.
When touring the house, you might not have found the road’s proximity to be an issue. Maybe you can’t really hear it when the doors and windows are closed. But if you need to sell the home in the future, it’s important to realize that other buyers might be turned off by your home’s location.
Schools
Even if you don’t have kids and don’t plan on having any, homes located in good school districts are more desirable than homes with average or sub-par schools. A home in a good school district is more likely to appreciate over time.
Why the Current Owner is Selling the Home
It’s always worthwhile to ask the seller’s agent (or the sellers themselves) why the home is up for sale. They might not tell you the whole truth (unless there’s a problem they must disclose by law), but it never hurts to ask. You might get lucky and find out a useful piece of information – such as that the sellers don’t get along with the neighbors or there is a barking dog.
Talk to the Neighbors
If you can, talk to a few of the neighbors around the home you’re considering buying. They can provide you with insights about the neighborhood and give you a sense of the community surrounding your future home.
Crime Reports
Crime statistics are easy enough to find online. The City of San Diego website has resources to help you view crime statistics and crime maps in San Diego County.
Ultimately, the decision to make an offer on a home is entirely yours. You just want to make sure you’re thinking not only with your heart, but also with your head.
If you’re in the market to purchase a home in San Diego, I would be happy to help you – contact me to get started!
