Ten Reasons You Should Consider Buying A Home Sooner Than Later!

If you're like most first-time home buyers, you've probably listened to friends', family's and coworkers' advice, many of whom are encouraging you to buy a home. However, you may still wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. Having reservations is normal. The more you know about why you should buy a home, the less scary the entire process will appear to you. Here are some reasons you should consider buying a home sooner than later.



Favorable Interest Rates


One of the greatest and most obvious reasons to consider buying a home is the interest rates. Interest rates today, are some of the lowest rates that we have seen in years. It is possible that they will go even lower. You may think that getting a home loan in order to take advantage of these rates is impossible. Although credit standards and loan approval may be higher than before, obtaining a loan is well within the reach of homebuyers with a good credit rating and a steady income that can support the monthly mortgage payments.


Tax Benefits


The second best reason to buy a home is the tax savings. For most workers buying a home may not only allow them to deduct the mortgage interests, it also gives them the ability to itemize their deductions, which they may not have been able to do previously. Once you have lived in your home for two years, you are able to exclude an amount of profit from your capital gains. In addition, you are able to take advantage of this exclusion every two years, even if you decided to sell the home after you have lived there for at least two years.


Appreciation


Unlike cars, houses appreciate over time. Therefore, your house will more than likely be worth more in a few years than you paid for it. Some people take full advantage of the appreciation factor and sell their homes for a profit.


Plenty to Choose From


However, another great reason to buy a house now is the selection. Unfortunately, due to rising foreclosure, there are numerous houses on the market in every state. Regardless of your tastes or preferences, you should be able to find just what you are looking for.


Acquire Equity


Houses are also good sources for future credit and or financing. Homeowners are able to turn the equity that they have in their home into a loan or line of credit through refinancing. This benefit has proven to be important, in a down economy or in situations where medical bills are unmanageable, home repairs or improvements are needed, or kids need funds for college.


Personal Reasons


However, it may be a larger factor for some more than others there are personal and family related reasons for buying a home. The family reasons are usually the most obvious and typically include the need for additional space due to a growing family or relocation for a job or business opportunity. Yet, personal reasons are not always considered. For many, the desire to be able to customize a living space without asking for permission is strong and often a great motivator for young adults to buy their first home. Others grow tired of the noise, neighbors, and cramped quarters of apartments and/or dorm life.


Owning your Home


One of the more traditional reasons for buying a home is that you are purchasing property that you can actually own rather than paying for the use of someone else's property. As we start to get older, the desire to have a place to settle down and retire in becomes more pressing. If you buy a home, you own property that you can not only retire into; but also, pass on to your children.


Asset Ownership


The idea of owning property that can be passed down is the reason many people work and save, which leads us to the next reason to buy a home. There is a pride and peace of mind that comes with owning a house. This is the ability to see why you go to work day in and day out, work two or jobs, or work two or more shifts. This sense of accomplishment cannot be duplicated when renting.


Becoming Part of a Community


If you are searching for a strong sense of community, than you need to consider buying a home. When you own a home in a good neighborhood, you take the time to meet and get to know your neighbors. In addition, you are more likely to become involved in neighborhood activities and community programs.


Flexibility


If you have entertained the idea of starting your own home based business, you may find that it is much easier to convert an extra room in your home into a home office than it is in a rental or apartment setting. You may be able to have a designated entrance for clients, as well as space for a small waiting area. However, depending on the type of business you are considering more elaborate modifications may be required. For example, you may need to bring a restroom up to ADA standard or install an additional sink.

Tips for Finding the Right Home for Your Family

When beginning the process of finding a new home, it is often difficult to know where to begin. Before researching the market or analyzing housing options, home buyers may want to start by prioritizing their family’s needs, determining what are “need-to-haves” and what are “nice-to-haves.” Below are some factors you may want to consider when trying to find the right home for your family.



When you begin searching for the right home for your family, you may first want to determine what would be the best location. One of the best ways to find a home location that suits your family is to assess your needs and determine how much your family can compromise. For instance, do you have small children or pets that require a large backyard to play in? Or would you be equally happy taking your kids and dog to the local park? Do you need quiet surroundings, like a dead-end street, or do you prefer the hustle and bustle of metropolitan areas? These are the types of general assessments which may help you determine an ideal location for your family.

Though it may be easy to determine what type of environment your family wants to reside in, you will want to spend more time analyzing the details of the neighborhoods you are considering. As you try to determine which neighborhoods are best for your family, you may want to take into account such factors as the quality of nearby schools and the proximity to shopping or your workplace. After seeing what different neighborhoods have to offer, compare the pros and cons of each area you are considering to determine the best location for your family.


After you have a chance to look at a few homes and research various neighborhoods, try to visualize the best home for your family. Though you have probably already thought about how many bedrooms and bathrooms your family needs, consider keeping a list of desired amenities – both essential and those that you could live without – as you continue the home buying process. You may also want to consider what type of home construction your family needs, from a standard single-family home to a condominium or even a multi-family home. Upon viewing particular homes, you may realize that your family needs a certain amount of storage space or more overall square footage than you realized. Add and subtract from this list as you look at more homes, always keeping track of where your family can compromise.


For instance, if you find a home that meets all of your family’s needs but has a smaller than desired garage, you could still be faced with an opportunity that is too good to pass up. Furthermore, you might find the perfect home in a neighborhood you never thought to consider, or in a specific type of construction that was initially ruled out of your search. Quite simply, try not to limit your family’s options too much and remain open-minded throughout the home buying process. You might even find a great home with special features you never thought your family could afford – like a pool, a spa or an extra fireplace.


When trying to find the best home for your family, try to stay organized and keep your priorities straight. As you look at different homes, try to consider how each property fits your family’s needs. After finding some homes that meet your family’s needs, you may then want to focus on each home’s desirable extras to help narrow down your search. By making such lists and assessing your family’s needs throughout the home buying process, you might be surprised how quickly you uncover the home of your dreams.

Buy a Home around Fort Benning!!!

According the the Fort Benning Housing website:

Purchase a Home

Financial Freedom comes from having cash flow to do what you want, when you want. Owning a home is one of the surest ways to build wealth. You may want to consider using your BAH to invest in yourself through home-ownership. Both officers and enlisted personnel have used this approach to reduce their tax burden, provide a house for their family, increase their net worth and choose where they would like to live rather than being told "where to live".


A good place to start is by looking at our local realtor's website www.gohomesearching.com where you can get a ton of helpful information and browse both new home subdivisions and resales in the Fort Benning area. Also check out www.jefflindseycommunities.com for more information about a popular local builder.

As always, Happy House Hunting!
~Blalock & Associates
www.gohomesearching.com