Real estate professionals often say the best time to buy a property depends on the market. Depending on where a person lives, there may be variations on when the best time is to sell a home and buy a new one. The property search can take some time. Springtime is when the market becomes flooded with properties, for sale in time for summer to end and school to begin. Buying a property in springtime never looked better. Find out why and how to get started.

Know Your Springs

Springtime is different depending on who you ask. The natural home-buying season starts around April and goes until June. After mid-June, sales and purchases may decline as people take a vacation and go away for summer trips. Springtime home buying can apply to other months of the year. In warmer climates, this means January through May. In the Midwest, this can begin when the snow melts and people start to warm to the idea of selling or buying with the winter thaw. Don't think too long and hard about timing. Speak to a real estate professional for advice but definitely do what feels the best when it feels like the time is right. 

A Little Prep Goes a Long Way

Depending on where a buyer lands, it may be helpful to spend time in the new place if possible. Check out the local scene, the schools, neighborhoods, and entertainment districts. See what people do, who is out, and get to know the area better. Interview real estate agents who seem to have a pulse on the current market trends. An agent who specializes in the area may be more familiar with downtrends and knowing when the best time to look in that area is for that perfect home. Keep location as the primary focus. It should meet the basic requirements and be in good shape. Other than that, don't worry about traditional things like looking for the perfect time. The perfect time to buy maybe now.

Catch a Glimpse

One of the best ways to see a home and all its flaws is right after winter has ended and spring comes along. Any leaking, wear and tear, and repairs tend to show up once the cooler weather wanes. This makes it easier to spot issues as opposed to house-hunting in winter. The snow is gone, the fog is rolling away, and the time is right to do some general inspections from the outside to see how a neighborhood, and property, have fared the weather. If all looks good, it might be worth a closer look. Any red flags like weather-worn roofs, siding, or other issues will appear and can be a sign to inspect further or walk away until the right home comes available. 

Don't hesitate to contact a professional in the Ohio market who understands the trends. Choice Properties has people ready to assist your search this spring, or anytime, so you can find the right home for you and your family. There are many things to consider when searching for that perfect property. Call us to have us help you set up an appointment to discuss what you need and get you started on the search. 

Moving to a new home is nerve-wracking for many homebuyers, regardless of whether it is their first time or one of many homes they have purchased. Location is key for many buyers, with good reason. A decent location with access to quality schools, easy transportation to work, and local, family-friendly activities gets people excited about the possibilities of being in a neighborhood that functions well and will be a home for years to come. A home that is near a busy highway or roads can be a worthwhile investment, so long as the family knows all the pitfalls of being too close to traffic. Learn more about roads and highways and just how much they impact home value.

Mapping the Roads

Traffic volume, location of major roads, and proximity to homes are all key elements of understanding the way roads and highways affect home value. If a road is marked as a 'motorway,' this usually indicates high traffic. Anything marked 'residential road' usually has low traffic volume. It is important to talk with the realtor and find out more about the neighborhood if there are concerns about traffic or noise pollution. Even suburban areas with residential neighborhoods can have higher levels of traffic, depending on pending developments or other issues at hand. 

Adjusting Values for Roads

It helps when looking at home values to understand why we need to adjust them based on roads. It is difficult to know which road is responsible for a home selling for more or less than its value. By reviewing maps and local home values, it can inform some of the reasons why this happens. In most cases, a home may be affected by a busy road only by distance to the nearest busy road. The distance and cutoff approach does not work well where there are fewer homes. If a home is near a big highway but another one is between that home and the highway, it is still reasonable to consider a busy road adjustment for the first home. Homes not so near that highway will not have the same adjustment, even if they are still nearby. A group of homes or subdivisions located near a highway might have higher home values if it is a commuter situation where people in that area are likely to live there because they can compute costs associated with people desiring a location near arteries that take them into a major city. People likely will pay more to live in those areas than rural ones further from desirable ones. 

Road Geometry

Home values are calculated by looking at road geometry. This means reviewing home coordinates and putting them into a set of points for a given market. This generates a diagram from the set of all points. This Voronoi diagram looks at all home points to compute where the region touches a road point. If a home region touches a road region, that home is adjacent to that road. The region of space is closer to that road than anything else. Data may seem unimportant but it is the bigger picture of how home values are determined. New roads are built all the time so it is important to keep it updated for buyers and sellers, as well as real estate agents. Looking at this data gives people an idea where the best places are to build with the best opportunity to sell their units and make a profit. When people have information, they are more empowered to move forward with their purchases and sales, informing the process all the way through. 

Finding that top-notch property is tough work. There is a lot to consider. When you make the decision to work with Choice Properties, we have done all the leg work. All you have to do is find the house of your dreams and we are ready to help you make it a reality. We specialize in meeting your home buying and selling needs all the way to close. Call us to find out how we can help you today.   

Should You Downsize Your Home?

It seems like yesterday you experienced the thrill of purchasing your first home, perhaps filling the space with loving pets or children. Making family memories in your home is something to cherish, but what happens when your youngest child makes the move to college? Should you downsize your home? A smaller home means less cleaning and minimal maintenance, freeing you of time and money for new activities. If you are considering moving into a smaller space, you're not alone!

How to Know When It's Time to Downsize

Choosing to live in less space often has to do with craving a simpler, low-maintenance lifestyle. Downsizing is a common trend for those who have retired and prefer less space. Not only are these homes easier to maintain, but can be found in walkable neighborhoods with easy access to amenities such as culture, restaurants and nightlife.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Downsizing

• What will I miss in my larger home? Asking yourself what you will miss in your current home will help set you up for a plan. Perhaps you need the extra storage space, but will a rental storage unit help when downsizing?

• How much time will you save while cleaning and keeping up with yard work? One benefit of moving into a smaller home is less time spent on cleaning and yard work, which is something most people will find as a positive!

• How much will it cost to get rid of items/furniture I no longer need? If you don't have a thorough plan for selling or giving away your things, and you do it in a rush (giving valuables away to places and people you don't truly care about), you may start to feel right away that you're losing money. Take time to plan about donating extra furniture or selling it to ease your mind.

Finding Your New Home

Downsizing is a great option for many families. Not only do they save time and money in the long run, but often feel comfortable with their choice of easy living. If you are ready to find your new, smaller home, contact the award winning agents at Choice Properties today!

Choice Properties understands your needs and desires when it comes to the home search. We are here to help you define what you want, seek the best property and move forward feeling educated and able to make good decisions throughout the process. You can trust us to help you navigate it with the best real estate agents working for you. Call us to get started on your dream home search today.

Commercials, renovation shows and other commercialization of real estate can give people a false impression of what to expect out of home ownership. A quaint historic house, cabin by the lake or beautiful home in the suburbs are all great aspirations. The idealized version is often different than the realistic concept of finding (and purchasing) the home of a person's dreams. Learn some tips to feel at home no matter where you may live.

Meaning of Home

Home can be best understood as a place to live, reside and put stuff. However, a home is more than that. It embodies a sense of comfortable, familiarity which many desire but it seems few achieve. Some people travel for work, are in military families who move frequently or spend less time at home than expected. Being between homes when things are tight can change the meaning of home when changing spaces with some frequency. Finding a creative way to cultivate a sense of home can be important to feeling that home is a place that resides within, rather than in a particular place.

Downsize

Many people live with materialistic goods and carry it from place to place. The rule of the day seems to be 'less is more,' focused on the idea people should curate what is really important and pare down all the belongings to only what brings true joy and happiness. Throwing out items or donating them can free up space and make a person feel more at home. Selling or giving away old books and furniture can feel good as well.

Keep Photos

A creative way to make a house feel like a home is to print photos. Visual histories are not kept online mostly through social media accounts or on phones. Some photo frames with conceptual feel and a little organization can really brighten up any space, no matter where a person resides.

Making Scents

Nothing smells sweeter than a mild fragrance that adds a pleasant aroma to a space. Scents play an important role for people socially and emotionally. It is one of the senses people rely on to determine how appetizing food might be (or not be) and even to assess danger. Any smell that brings up a sense of home can be done with candles, flowers or even special cleaners to keep a space neat and tidy.

Finding "Home"

When an individual moves spaces alot whether for work or because home ownership is not in the cards at the present moment, it can feel as if people live in other's spaces. The familiar sights may not be present but it should not shy a person away from exploring neighborhoods and trying new things to make a place feel like home. Check out local places, engage neighbors and find a way to connect with the area. Whether indoors or outdoors, being in and outside a space can elevate ideas for how to build a sense of belonging and home.

Choice Properties is locally owned and operated, focusing on serving the communities in and around Indian Lake in Logan County. Our award-winning agents will focus on meeting your needs to help get you the results you need. Call us to get started.