Love it or List it: How You Know it’s Time to Move
Your home is your refuge. Your shelter. The place you retreat after a hard day. At home, we relax and rejuvenate. We entertain guests. We share time with family and friends firing up the barbecue in the back yard. Our point is that we spend a lot of time at home. At New Tradition Homes, we understand buying a house is a huge investment, so if you don’t love it, you should most definitely list it. Here’s how to know when you’ve outgrown your home and it’s time to pack up and move on.
According to the United States Census Bureau, housing-related matters were the most popular reason for why people moved between 2012 and 2013. In fact, almost half of those surveyed provided housing-related reasons as the cause of their move.
Of those housing-related reasons, the most popular is that it’s simply time for an upgrade. Perhaps, your situation has changed. Maybe you originally purchased a starter home and now you have the finances available to begin searching for your dream home. Or maybe what you once considered your dream home has now become outdated.
If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place. As one of the premier homebuilders in Washington State, New Tradition specializes in building new homes in Vancouver. If you haven’t been able to find exactly what you’re looking for, we can create it for you. We’ll also help you modernize your home with energy efficient upgrades. Working with your vision, we’ll build a durable, energy efficient home where you can create new memories and new traditions for years to come.
A second reason to move? You guessed it. Location, location, location. You’ve heard it time and again. Location is one of the primary factors prospective buyers use when purchasing a new home and it’s also a factor used when determining when to move. Maybe your once quiet neighborhood has seen an influx of new neighbors. If you live in a congested area with lots of noise that makes it nearly impossible to get to bed at night, it could be time to look for a new place. For instance, you may want to opt for a suburban home in a quiet, tree-lined residential neighborhood instead.
If you’ve recently had a job transfer and your weekday morning commute is a hassle, you can save yourself a ton of time and stress by finding a home closer to the office. Or maybe your kids are growing up and it’s time to enroll them in school. It’s probably a good idea to move closer to the school so you’re not constantly shuttling them back and forth for extracurricular activities.
Even if you don’t have kids yet, but are contemplating starting a family, it’s a good idea to move. Why? So glad you asked! First of all, each residential area is located within a particular school district. That means where you live determines where your child goes to school. If you’re looking at your home purchase as a long-term investment, you should start thinking now about which school your child will attend. While it is possible to request a boundary exception so that your child can attend a school outside your neighborhood’s school district, there’s no guarantee your request will be granted.
Therefore, it’s important to start considering now which schools have the best test scores and overall student performance. Take a look at this interactive map to determine which school your child will likely attend. Then take a look at this performance data to see how that school measures up. If your child is quickly approaching school age and you’re located in a school district that doesn’t have the best schools, it could be time to move.
Think that simply because you don’t have kids, the school district discussion doesn’t concern you? Think again. Homes located in neighborhoods with high-performing schools almost always have a higher market value than those that do not. That means that regardless of market fluctuations, homes located within good school districts will generally sell well. So if you choose a home located in a school district with high caliber schools, you’re likely to get a good return on your investment.
Speaking of kids, if your family has expanded and you’ve outgrown the size of your home, then it’s time to pack up. Little Tommy and Susie might be able to share a bedroom right now, but as they grow older, they’re going to want their privacy and a space to call their own. A shared bedroom or tight living quarters usually makes things feel cramped and crowded. That can adversely affect the mood at home and negatively impact your family life. If space is getting tight, you should definitely consider listing your house and upgrading to a larger home.
On the other hand, you may find yourself needing to downgrade your home. Family situations change over time. Maybe your college-aged kids are out of the house now and suddenly your five-bedroom condo seems a bit too spacious. Perhaps you’re hitting retirement age and could use the extra money for things like travel or buy that boat you’ve always dreamt of owning. If your house no longer suits your needs, it’s time to put it on the market. Your house should work for you, not against you. If you’re paying a hefty mortgage on a home you no longer need, it’s time to trade it in for one that’s just the right size.
These are just a few of the signs that it could be time to start looking for new homes in Vancouver. Whatever your situation, we’re confident we have what you’re looking for. So take a look at our available floor plans and give us a call to discuss your customization options. Your dream home is waiting for you. All you have to do is knock.