Minneapolis offers plenty of wonderful things both to its residents and visitors. While it’s true that it seems like everyone just talks about the Mall of America, many people tend to forget noticing the abundance of other beautiful areas scattered around. You’ve got the Stone Arch Bridge and Great River State Park to name a few places that’ll surely etch into memory. However, finding an ideal home can be a challenging, especially in a city as prominent as this one. It takes time, patience, and knowledge. But worry not! Here’s the ultimate step-by-step guide in landing the perfect place in ever famous Twin Cities!
Minneapolis has a lot of attractions. But what exactly do you need to find a good home here?
Determine Your Expectations for a ‘Perfect Home’
The first and most crucial advice to have when buying a new home is to understand what your idea of the ‘perfect home’ is. For some people, this may mean finding a spacious place to house their growing family. For others, it could be a cheap yet reasonable space that will help them get by. A few people might even be looking for cottages near water or mountains for spending vacation time. It all boils down to your budget and how much you’re willing to compromise. In an ideal world, would you prefer to live within walking distance of work? Or maybe you are happy driving 25 minutes to get there every morning. Do you like an extravagant lot or a minimalistic landscape? Only you can answer these questions.
Set a Budget and Stick with It
Nothing’s more difficult than finding a great house but scouring the market for months as you rack up debt. Before you start looking, set a budget and stick to it. Good news, though. Minneapolis ranks as one of the most affordable cities in the country with a median home price of about $325,796. It is possible to buy a decent home within your budget, even in some of the most expensive cities around the world. A common mistake many people make is they bid on properties that are beyond their financial means, leading to heartbreak and regret.
Get to Know People Around Your Potential Neighborhood
More than the quality of your home, the safety of your neighborhood and the vibes given of by your neighbors will largely determine how happy you will be in it for the next few years. That’s why it pays to go talk to people around the area where you’re looking to live. Use social media groups, internet forums and other opportunities to get in contact with fellow residents of the new neighborhood. In case they are not very forthcoming with their thoughts online, try to go down there yourself and have a quiet chat with them.
Inspect the Home for Issues
It might be tempting to lunge on a cheap deal or something that sounds too good to be true. But allow yourself to be skeptical. There’s always got to be a catch somewhere. With this in mind, take a look around and see how well-cared for the place is. Does it seem like they invested in renovations recently, or is the home dated and worn? This could mean that you’re moving into a property with many years left of use, which may work for you, but also means there might be issues further down the line. You would want to know these details before committing too much money on a property with potential problems.
Mind the Lawn
The house itself isn’t the only thing you should be thinking of. Sure, a place is nice and clean on the surface but what about the surrounding area? A well-maintained landscape greatly improves aesthetics and increase the value of the property itself. Of course, it’s shouldn’t be the only thing you’ll be looking at. You could always take up landscaping and gardening as a hobby to spice up your future space.
Ask Questions
Honestly, it’s not always easy to determine whether or not you’ve found the perfect home. However, there are certainly some questions that can help! For example, do you have enough space for all your things? Is the floor plan practical? Would it be too loud if there were children living in this environment? Will your privacy be compromised if you live on a busy road? Asking yourself these questions will enable you to see the situation from every angle.
Think Beyond the Flaws
To be real, no home will ever be perfect. You need to understand that. Unless you’ve got plenty of money and can afford a house in big cities like New York or San Francisco, expect to make compromises. Like if the house is close to your kids’ school, but also by a busy road, it’s perfectly fine for some. Then again, not everyone can handle so much noise and pollution.
People have different priorities in life. For others it could be location while for others maybe having free parking space or being able to buy meat at their local butcher shop are more important. The trick here is knowing what you want ahead of time. So take into account all your needs then exclude any that are non-negotiable before starting the hunt for your dream home!
Think about all these, and you’ll see that you’ve found the perfect home.
Minneapolis is a sprawling city brimming with opportunities. It’s also a great place to find a home. Be sure to follow the steps above so you can land your dream home in no time!
