What Parents Should Look Out For When Buying A Home

Whether you already have a family or are just planning on one, it's important to keep your kids in mind when shopping for a home. Here are a few things our real estate agents recommend paying attention to if you have a family or plan on starting one someday.

• Bedroom Layout
  Some homes are laid out with the master bedroom or suite on a completely different level than the rest of the bedrooms. If you have older kids, everyone may benefit from having a little more privacy, but most likely you'll want young kids on the same level as you. Otherwise, you may find yourself going up and down a lot of stairs every night.
  
  
• Open Floor Plan
  A lot of South Bend homes for sale have open floor plans in the common rooms such as the kitchen, dining room, and living room. This "great room" approach comes in handy when you have littles running around, as you can more easily supervise play while doing chores such as cooking, cleaning, or even working at the dining table.
  
  
• A Flat Yard
  Avoid houses on sloped plots of land, as hills make everything more difficult, from playing ball to finding a place to set up a swing set. A relatively flat yard will provide more play space so that you have a place to send the kids to play when you aren't able to take them to a playground or ball field.
  
  
• Easy Line-of-Sight to the Outside
  Speaking of sending the kids out to play, a home that is set up well for kids and families will have yards that are easy to see from the inside. Look for homes with lots of windows that offer unobstructed views of the yard. Bonus points if the home office is also set up so that you can keep an eye on the kids while you work!
  
  
• Sidewalks
  Sometimes older neighborhoods don't have good (or any) sidewalks, so it's important to look at the walking paths in any neighborhood you're considering. Look for sidewalks not just in front of the house you're looking at, but also in the rest of the neighborhood. Wide, modern sidewalks in good repair make it easy to take family walks, push strollers, and go on safe bike rides.
  
  
• Play Places within Walking Distance
  Most modern neighborhoods are designed around plentiful access to parks and other play areas for kids, but it's worth checking out the nearest playgrounds and parks at any house you're considering buying. Look for play structures and amenities that are age-appropriate and interesting to your kids.
  
  
• Neighbors
  Kids love having other kids to play with, so be on the lookout for neighborhoods with lots of other families. More importantly, check the neighborhood out during different times of the day and different days of the week to make sure it's a place you'll feel comfortable raising your kids.
  
  
• Schools
  Last but not least, be sure you check out the schools in the area before buying a home there. A lot of parents go into a housing search knowing what school district they want to be in, but if you haven't thought about this yet, do some research and have an idea of where you want your kids to go to school. Even schools in the same district can vary quite a bit.

Trying to find the right home and location for your family can generate a long list of needs and wants. Need help focusing on what's most important in your housing search? Contact us today, and we'll help you find the home that's perfect for your family.