Buying A Home That Fits Your Future

You are looking at buying a home soon but overwhelmed by what you should be considering in your purchase. The good news is, it is possible to buy a home that you would consider your dream home and your forever home. The key is to not think of your home needs and wants in just the short term but also in the long term. Will this home fit your future self and family in 20 to 30 years?

More and more people are building a home or buying a home where they can age in place. It is important to buy a home that meets all your needs and wants now and still allows access to the things you require in your daily life as you age, no matter whether you are buying your first home or are approaching your golden years.

Thinking Long Term When Buying A Home

Of course, it is impossible to predict how things will change in you and your family’s life over the years. But, making a conscious effort to try and plan for the long term when buying a home can make things much easier to enjoy and thrive in your home for a very long time to come. Consider things like:

• Will your family be expanding?
• Do you have grown children moving out soon?
• Will you or your spouse be retiring after moving into your new home?

The goal is to try and find a home that fits the universal design for you and your family. Universal design, as defined by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to consider when buying a home that will fit your future.

Lot Size

The size of the lot is often one of the last things people think of when buying a home but it should be one of the first. Especially if you are trying to purchase for your present and future. Are you and your spouse planning on expanding your family soon and want room for kids to play? Is having a live-in caretaker something you are thinking about for in the not so distant future? If you have a home that takes up almost your entire lot, your options in these situations will be very limited.

If you have a spacious yard or room available on your lot, adding a “mother-in-law” suite is always an option down the road and could fit many future life changes. For example, a live-in caretaker can live in this separate space and you’ll still have some sense of independence in your space. Or, having a large backyard will provide an ideal space to host parties, allow kids or pets to play, or be the perfect place to spend time with grandkids outside. Choose a lot that can grow and adapt with you.

Location

The location of your home is another big factor to consider for several reasons. How long is your commute to work from your prospective home’s location? It may not matter in the future after you have retired but is it reasonable for you now? You don’t want to compromise on something that you will dread every day.

Also, if you plan on expanding your family and living in this new home for years to come, you should consider the local school district. Does it offer schools you would be happy sending your child to? Keep these things in mind when deciding on the location of your new home.

Exterior Maintenance

The exterior landscape, and how much maintenance it will require, is another important thing to consider when buying a home. Maybe you like gardening and maintaining your outdoor space now, but is it something you feel like you would be able to do or want to handle further down the line? Does the topography seem ideal for being able to still walk around in and enjoy with your family later in life? Hiring a professional landscape maintenance service in the future is always an option, but is that something you want to do and pay for? The exterior aspects of your home are just as important as what you consider for the interior aspects.

Home Size

The size of your new home is one of the most vital things to consider when looking for a home that will fit your future. This is in reference to both the number of bedrooms or bathrooms as well as the number of floors. If you are going to be expanding your family or expect to have family come to visit, you will want to ensure you have that extra space. Look for flexibility. A room could be an in-home office now, a nursery down the line, and a perfect guest bedroom for grandkids in the future.

Also, the perfect scenario for universal design is to have the main living spaces, a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living room, on the ground floor. If you have a two story home you can set yourself up to enjoy upstairs living spaces now, with the option and availability to transition to living mainly in the downstairs areas as you age.

The key is to find the perfect balance between having enough space in your home, both for your current needs and future needs, without getting stuck with too much space to try and maintain in your retirement years.

Layout Of Your Home

The layout of the home is just as important as the size. If you plan on expanding your family or want to plan for the possibility of not being as mobile in your later years, an open floor plan allows ease of supervision of kids throughout the home as well as maneuverability in a walker or wheelchair.

If you expect a lot of family staying with you in the future, more separated personal spaces are ideal. You could always have plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for family upstairs and an open living concept downstairs. Thinking “big picture” like this will allow you to enjoy your new home now and a long time in the future.

Fit Your Lifestyle

Just because you want a home that will fit your needs now and in the future doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the design items you desire. You can still have luxury with conscientious design. In today’s home building, planning for ease of use in the future can still look great and fit many styles from modern to traditional. You can still have the aesthetically pleasing home of your dreams now and ensure it will work for you for many years to come.

Things like lever-style door handles, door thresholds that are flush with the floor, rocker-style light switches, and bathroom floors or tubs with non-slip surfaces are all things that make life easier living at home in your golden years. But, with design options available now with accessibility in mind, all of these things can look great next to granite countertops, modern fixtures, or elegant touches throughout the home.

It is definitely possible to buy a home that fits your lifestyle and design preferences now and still provide the opportunity to age in place happily.

Building A Home For You & Your Family’s Future

By picturing how you and your family’s lives will look in the future, you can ensure you are buying a home that you all can grow old in and enjoy for many years to come. It is possible to buy a home that fits all of the checkmarks of your dream home and also allows you to age in place.

SEDA New Homes has homes available that can meet all of your present and future needs. Contact us online or stop by one of the model homes in our communities today and one of our licensed agents will be happy to show you the home design options SEDA has to offer. We can help you enjoy your new home for decades to come.