Understanding the
Atlanta Home Buying Process


Step #4 - Determine Your Wants and Needs

Home buyers in the northwest Atlanta area will typically walk through at least three houses, and as many as ten houses, within one to four weeks before they find the perfect home and decide to make an offer. To save time and insure that you find the home of your dreams, it's important to have a written list of things you want and need in a home. There are many beautiful homes on the market, and buying a home can be an exciting experience. It's easy to get a little too excited about a particular house, and then discover that it really doesn't meet you needs. Having a list of your wants and needs can help keep yourself on track, so you're happy with your purchase for many years to come.

Do I really need to write it down?

Yes, write your list on a piece of paper. Include what you absolutely need and also what you want. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

How important is it to live close to work, schools, parks, shopping, friends, family, or places of worship?

Would you like to live in the city or in the country?

Which towns or cities would you absolutely love to live in?

Which towns or cities would you live in if you had to?

Which towns or cities would you absolutely NOT want to live in?

If you have children, what schools would you like them to attend?

What neighborhood amenities do you want (pool, tennis courts, clubhouse)?

Do you want to live in a neighborhood with a Homeowners Association (HOA)? Why is this important?

HOA = You must pay annual dues and there may be restrictions that affect what you can do to your house, but nearby houses will usually remain in better condition and positively affect the value of your property.

No HOA = You will not have any HOA dues and there are no HOA rules that will restrict what you can or cannot do to your property, but if other properties in your neighborhood are not maintained, this could negatively affect the value of your property.

How close to or far away from work do you want to live?

What type of house do you want to live in?

House (Ranch, Traditional, Contemporary)?
Condo (townhome or apartment-like living)?

How many bedrooms do you need? How many do you want?

How many bathrooms do you need? How many do you want?

How many stories do you want (1-story, 2-story, split level)?

Do you want or need a basement?

Do you want or need a garage or carport? For how many cars?

Do you want a large or a small yard?

Large Yard = You will have more privacy because there will be more space between houses, but you will have a larger yard to mow and maintain.

Small Yard = This will be easier to mow and maintain, but you will have less privacy because houses will be closer together.

How much can you afford? Maximum down payment? Maximum monthly payment? Preferred monthly payment?

Are you willing to make repairs to the property? Fixer-uppers can often be a great deal.

Do you have any special needs?

Do you need a house with handicap features?

Do you need a stepless entry, a ramp, or wider doorways for easy wheelchair accessibility?

Do you need a one-story house or a bedroom on the main level?

Are there any special features or amenities that you need or want?

Now that you know what type of home you're looking, sort your list in order of priority, with the most important features at the top of the list. This will help keep you focused on the things that are most important to you.

Step #5 - Finding a Home You Will Love >