Picking The Right Property For Your Lifestyle

Moving house is so much more than just changing the address you drive home to at the end of another long workday. Finding the right home that suits your lifestyle is key to finding the perfect property for you. If you love nature and the outdoors, then an inner-city apartment probably isn’t the best choice for you, even if your work is located there. From downsizers, large families to those going it solo, here are our tips to helping you find the right property for your lifestyle.

Downsizers

Maintaining a large home is no small feat, especially when you have more rooms than you know what to do with. Downsizing doesn’t only mean you will have less home to maintain, but it means you will have more time to enjoy the things you love doing. Now that the kids have officially left the nest (and not likely to return), your family home is quite simply, too big. You don’t have to downsize immediately, take the time to think about the kind of property you want to move into, for example, if you have pets or grandkids you probably still want to have a backyard so there is room for everyone to play and space for any furry friends. Also, consider if you want a change of scenery, do you want to live closer to the beach, are you dreaming of quiet days in the country? Try not to rush into moving straight away, take your time to research and consider what property type and location will be best for your lifestyle. Townhouses, villas and small homes (think no more than 3 bedrooms) are all great options for downsizers who are looking for low-maintenance living.

Growing Families

Finding the perfect home for your growing family might seem like an almost impossible task with all the things that should be taken into consideration. Finding a suburb that supports your lifestyle including great schools, sporting clubs and amenities, local parks and beaches plus easy access to supermarkets are all things a growing family needs to think about when finding a new home. What about the home itself? If you have a young family a house with lots of steps will present too much of a trip hazard in the immediate future. Floorplans play an important role in liveability, most newer homes have an open floorplan design which makes keeping an eye on the little ones much easier. If you want to avoid morning bathroom battles we suggest finding a home that certainly has more than one, especially when kids grow into teenagers. If you plan on staying in your home until your kids grow into adults consider finding a home that has two living areas that separate so that each generation can use them as they please.

The Solo Occupant

Finding the right home for solo living is comparable to those downsizing but there are a few more variables at play. If you’re young and looking to invest in your future and find a home that will suit you for the next 5-10 years a 1-bedroom apartment may not be the best choice. If you’re looking to set yourself up for the future look at properties that have potential to expand, or even look at a small home with 2 or more bedrooms so you can rent out your spare rooms and the rental income will also help to pay off your mortgage. If you have your heart set on apartment living focus on location. If you want to cut your commute time look at suburbs surrounding your place of work, if you can’t quite afford to move to your ‘dream suburb’, again, look at surrounding suburbs and see what apartments are available. Whether you’re looking for a home that will see you through 10 years into the future or you just want to get your foot into the property market the most important thing to consider is price and how you will manage repayments, don’t purchase a larger property if you are uncomfortable living with renters and a small apartment may not work for you if you want to take your pets with you.