Buying a house is a big investment. It is one of the goals all people have in life. Moving to a new state and finding a new home can be extremely stressful. The buying process can be fun, but also agonizing as well. Through the process you learn what you like, don't like and little things to look for that you may not have considered before. 

My wife and I finalized the purchase of our home over Thanksgiving weekend and are thrilled to finally be homeowners, as well as Idaho residents. It was a long curvy road, but ultimately we think we got the best house for us. We did learn a few things through the process. 

Location

Finding the location is first and foremost one of the most important factors. It affects where your kids go to school, the drive you make to work, your neighbors, as well as a foundation for a place to start. Figuring out where you want to live can help narrow down your search. For us, we wanted someplace not too far away but also where we felt safe too. 

Pricing

The loan company you go with will help with this, but figuring out your price range is also a major step. How far are you willing to go over for the right place? Is it more important to stay under that price to have a cheaper mortgage? Location plays a factor in this as well, as a certain part of town is cheaper than others. We had a budget and made sure we stayed within it, and even found a house cheaper than what we were looking for. 

Size Matters

Get your mind out of the gutter, we are talking houses. Figuring out how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want is essential. One bathroom can cause fights in a lot of families. Not enough bedrooms or tiny bedrooms can lead to issues as well. The bigger the house, the more to clean and usually the more expensive it is. Make sure to decide what exactly you want and it can narrow the search. 

Once you have figured all these out, then it helps turn your list of potential suitors into a shorter list. We had a list of 5 to 7 homes we wanted and after looking at them only one met all our requirements. Is it our dream home? No, but it is the house we will call home and are proud to own. It is a place to raise our children where we feel safe, is affordable, and big enough for us; until the next one at least. The process was stressful, frustrating, and agonizing at times, but the result is worth it. 

The Sun Valley Starship Is Stunning

Though it looks like an unfinished basement decorated with steampunk items, this multi-million dollar home is stunning.

Historic Boise Church Turned Modern Home

The house is 4,869 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. According to the listing on Realtor, the house won the 2021 Building Excellence Award in Design and Renovation.

More From 98.3 The Snake