Starter Homes: What to Look For

by Rudden|Bobruska Team 07/10/2022

If you’re looking for a starter home, you probably know some of your criteria already. A starter home is a more affordable and practical stepping stone to eventually owning a larger and more expensive forever home. Even with this concept in mind, it’s hard to know what to look for. Here we’ll go over the biggest things to keep in mind when searching for the perfect starter home.

A Convenient Location

Finding a starter home in a dream home neighborhood is an excellent way to experience all an area offers. For this reason, it’s recommended that you look for a starter home in or nearby where you eventually intend to live long term. You’ll be able to judge and access local amenities and businesses, school districts, transportation and overall feel of the location while paying less. If you want to live near family, friends or your job you can experience those benefits before finding your forever home.

This also means that if you change your mind about where you want to live, you’re also in a much more flexible position to move elsewhere. A starter home is already intended as a short-term living situation, so you will be more mentally and fiscally prepared to try somewhere new.

A Stable Housing Market

Even though you’re not likely to stay in a starter home for a long time, it’s important to find one where the local housing market is healthy. Consider a property in an area where home values and sale prices have either remained steady for years or have been gradually increasing. Be wary of neighborhoods that have dropped in price—while you may score an excellent deal on a home and mortgage, lower property values mean you may not recoup the cost when you eventually sell the home.

If you’re uncertain about market trends in your desired area, consult a real estate professional for guidance. They’ll be able to point you toward a smart move so that you find the best property for your needs.

Minimal Repairs or Improvements Needed

Some people equate the idea of a starter home with a fixer-upper. While fixer-uppers can be extremely affordable, they are often far more work (and expense) than new homeowners are prepared for. If your goal is to live in a starter home while saving money for a different home in the future, the last thing you want to do is spend thousands of dollars on repairs and improvements. This will delay your longer-term goals and probably add unnecessary stress to your living situation.

To avoid this, weigh your options when considering a property with existing issues. Some are easy and inexpensive fixes that can equal a great deal, while others might leave you in the red. Steer clear of major problems like a failing roof, foundation issues or extensive mold or pest problems. These problems are not only expensive to fix but require immediate attention—there’s no putting them off for later.

Starter homes can be incredibly beneficial for many first-time homebuyers. However, avoiding some common pitfalls will ensure that you find the right starter home to help you accomplish your future goals without sacrificing your short-term quality of life.

About the Author
Author

Rudden|Bobruska Team

Gary Rudden, Lisa Rudden, and Nick Bobruska  

RUDDEN BOBRUSKA TEAM

What sets your team apart from other real estate teams?

There is no team out in the market that offers what we do. All of us are Realtors, but

we each have specialized roles, which make our team so unique!

After decades of living and selling real estate in the DMV, we have established

ourselves as one of the top real estate teams with our market expertise and

cutting-edge technology. Our savvy high-tech marketing is on every website

and social media source. We have a huge network with other top agents, which

helps to premarket homes and discover homes for buyers before they reach the

open market. Our services include professional in-house staging services, broker

expertise in negotiating and navigating contracts, and buyer representation in all

price ranges. Each client has different needs and we create a marketing plan based

on those needs.

Our most distinct feature is our in-house construction and renovation team. We

are literally a full-service, one-stop shop when selling or buying a home!

How does the in-house construction and renovation team work?

All work is managed and completed through our licensed and bonded construction

crew. No need to call outside contractors. We are like “HGTV,” but we just don’t

have a show! Whether it’s a small makeover or a major renovation, we do it all. Our

sellers love this aspect of our team because we make preparing your home for the

market so seamless. Our buyers love the advice and insight we can give for future

renovations and repairs.

Having a licensed Maryland Home Improvement contractor as part of our team

along with the knowledge, experience, commitment and services that we offer, truly

puts our team as a vanguard in the real estate industry.