Three or four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, 2,000 square feet.
If you’re an active-duty service member who's house hunting, these home features might look familiar. Many military families are searching for similar amenities, according to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors.
From NAR’s points, it appears the military community has a set of non-negotiables when searching for their next home. It turns out they buy bigger houses more often than their civilian counterparts. Searching for plenty of space at a reasonable price is logical and not very surprising.
However, NAR’s profile doesn't mention other traditional non-negotiables and how they affect the ranking of important factors. The top priorities for many military families when buying a house generally include budget, home size, schools, commute, and location. Military home buyers who've prepared a home purchase checklist have a far easier time finding their ideal property. It’s worth the time to consider the specific must-haves or deal-breakers during the home search process.
The following are some of the most popular non-negotiables when buying a house.
Learning what to look for when buying a house takes some practice. First, ask yourself, "What are my non-negotiables and what should I compromise on when buying a house?" Then research online home ads. Is your list lining up with your chosen neighborhoods?
Many non-negotiable lists have "budget" written as #1. The amount of money you can spend on a home seems straightforward enough, but while searching, the hard line will soften if you realize the price point won’t match your needs. On the other hand, you may also need to let go of the dream pool or the walk-in closet to stay within your budget.
The lure of an updated primary bathroom or a two-car garage can tempt even the strongest of budget sticklers. Staying fiscally responsible can be difficult when the bank offers you a loan for an amount way more than you want to spend!
You really need a real estate team you're comfortable with and trust. The first step in gathering professionals is interviewing real estate agents. The ideal agent is out there, but finding the perfect fit will take time.
If they're local to the area you’re hoping to live in, start with family and friends for recommendations. Clients who've had good experiences are usually passionate about their agents, especially if they’re veterans or military spouses. Plus, if they offer rebates, you could save money.
An agent with the Military Relocation Professional Certification from the National Association of Realtors has a strong understanding of what military clients need to buy a home successfully. These agents connect with what's often most important for their clients: a fast timeline and a tight budget.
One of the best reasons to work with a real estate agent is their in-depth knowledge of the neighborhoods you’re considering. This information saves time, money, and potential heartbreak if a property is out of reach. An experienced agent is also an excellent source for directing clients to other reputable real estate professionals, such as mortgage lenders, home inspectors, and attorneys.
Search MilitaryByOwner's Business Directory to find real estate professionals near you.
There’s a good chance that, as a veteran or military member, you’ll use your VA home loan benefit to purchase a home. This type of loan isn’t always well understood by every lender. Your real estate agent should have recommendations, but ask the lender questions about the process, fees, and timelines.
For first-time buyers who are new to the home-buying process, find a pro who knows how to navigate the VA loan and who also has the time to answer all your questions.
The military rarely operates on your timeline. With PCS orders, there are many reasons to expedite the home-buying process or even drag it out. School start dates, medical issues, and deployments all affect how important closing and move-in dates are for military families.
If you're wondering whether you should add a home inspection to the list, the answer is yes. A home inspection is one of the most important steps to buying a house, so you can avoid large, costly problems in the future. However, in really hot sellers markets, home inspections are sometimes waived to close the deal.
It's not financially wise for the typical military home buyer to waive a home inspection. This is why inspections are the standard when buying a home. Without one, you can end up pouring a lot of unexpected time and money into property.
Although there are a few exceptions, your real estate agent will more than likely persuade you to hire a certified inspector to avoid costly repairs in the future. Keep in mind that a properly executed home inspection contingency in the purchase agreement allows buyers to walk away with their earnest money intact.
You can’t fully leave it up to your real estate agent to dig into your prospective new neighborhood. They’ll provide real estate-related numerical data, comps, and information on whether it’s a buyer's or seller's market, but you’re going to have to research the neighborhood and its surroundings on your own to decide if it's a good personal fit. Researching your new neighborhood is one of the crucial steps to buying a house.
If possible, take a casual walk that may put you in a convenient position to chat with existing neighbors. Neighbors love to be helpful! Reading neighborhood reviews, driving the streets, and tapping into criminal activity reports via state databases is all up to you.
It takes time to decide what to look for when buying a house because home buyers often change their minds about non-negotiables and ranked priorities as they learn what type of house they can afford and what neighborhoods suit their needs.
You need a ranked list of priorities from your non-negotiable list, and understand there may be one or two items you cannot budge on, like the sale price or the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Some home buyers walk into a house for sale and say that the property just felt like home, and they're ready to sign on the dotted line and move in. However, not everyone has the same ease when home searching, and priorities can change. You may have to give up something on the list to remain within budget or commuting distance of work or school, but having a solid grasp of what is non-negotiable helps when deciding whether to move forward with a home.
Get more tips in Avoid These Emotional Mistakes When Buying a Home.
Your list of amenities may look different at the beginning of your home-shopping journey than it does at the end. Prioritizing features is the perfect place to start, but there also has to be a bit of flexibility when deciding what home meets most of your needs and wants.
Potential homebuyers often have several of these descriptions on their non-negotiable lists.
However, having a fixed list of amenities can make the ideal property search unachievable, so this list may need to be flexible based on what's actually available.
One person’s hour-long commute is a time to unwind and listen to audiobooks. Another’s commute is an extra hour of aggravation while sitting in traffic. Where do you land? And does this change your mind about available homes for sale?
Homes near work and conveniences often cost more. Even a 10- to 15-minute longer commute time might offer a larger variety of homes to choose from.
When beginning a home search, most buyers envision a traditional single-family home with a spacious yard. If you can decide that you're open to other options, you'll have more possibilities during your home search.
Townhouses and condos are typically more affordable, and they give first-time homebuyers a greater ability to own property. Older buyers might appreciate the low maintenance and orderly yard care provided each month. Even families with children could benefit from options other than single-family homes, especially if other quality of life factors rank higher on the non-negotiable lists.
There are some things service members can't decide when they're given orders to move, but one area that military families often prioritize is choosing a home with access to the best schools. Whether the school is public or private, or it's halfway through the school year, buying a home to bolster educational opportunities is often a big factor on the non-negotiables list.
If you don't require access to schools, you'll still want to keep this perspective in mind when considering a home purchase. Good schools have a positive effect on a property's resale and rental values.
Military members have a unique perspective to consider in their home-buying process that the general population doesn’t always evaluate: buying a house for future rental income.
Purchasing a home with the option to rent in the future is common in a military buyer’s overall plan. It's not only because PCS cycles have a short time span, often every two to three years, but service members also think even five to ten years ahead.
The rental potential is also a factor when the owner anticipates buying a property that would suit their future beyond active duty. The plan of securing and living in a property for a few years, then renting it out, and eventually returning to the house, is common.
Finally, some military members find themselves in the real estate game, and they pursue buying properties as part of their overall wealth and income plan. Collecting rent from tenants living in a desirable property can be a lucrative opportunity if, as the owner, you're prepared to take on the responsibility of being a landlord who adheres to standard practices.
If it's time to buy a home, make solid plans and determine your non-negotiable list. A well-planned list of compatible, flexible options is the key to finding the perfect house. Real estate agents suggest keeping an open mind for properties outside your initial wish list, which is usually excellent advice; however, maintaining the one or two points that cannot change keeps the home shopping search on track.
MilitaryByOwner has dedicated research and content to help military home buyers navigate the process. Download our free home buying guide below for additional information.