If you love gardening, you'll enjoy finding a home with a large yard, maybe something with ornamental shrubs or even a vegetable garden. Existing gardens or not, a green thumb can make any yard beautiful. However, if you've got no time for working in the garden, you'll prefer a low-maintenance, small yard. In fact, a town home with a pre-existing landscaping company may be more your style. That way you can simply pay for the service with the rest of your fees. However, a landscaping company can easily be hired to mow any yard, so if the home and location is perfect, don't let the yard change your mind. The same thing goes if you love to garden, as even a small yard can bring rewards. Imagine turning the lawn into an English garden with stone walk-ways leading to a central bird-bath.



Communication may be another consideration for you. In the lower floors of some condos and apartments it can be hard to get good cell phone reception, just as it can be in far-out rural areas. This might be a really big deal if you've given up your land line and rely on a cell phone. If this is the case, test your phone while you are viewing a condo unit. If there are no or few bars of power, you may be able to get more with another type of phone, or another cell phone company.

If you have kids, proximity to schools, and a safe neighborhood will be a priority. If you are relocating to a new city, ask your REALTOR? for an area map, and any demographic information you might find relevant. If they have one, check out a school's website. If you aren't sure about a place, it might be best to rent in the area before buying, so that you can be assured of investing in the best neighborhood you can afford.

If you've got allergies, this is another consideration. If you are severely allergic to animals, make sure the house you are considering buying wasn't recently home to that animal. If it was, consider if you can replace the carpeting that may still hold dander or fur, even after a professional cleaning. Alternatively, it may eve be the carpets that cause your allergy. More and more people these days are chemically sensitive, and chemicals in carpets and adhesives are often the cause. If this is the case, look for homes with real hard-wood floors and minimal or no press-board or laminate, as products that often contain formaldehyde. Some developers now are building homes with low-emission paints and plywoods. Also check that your home has good ventilation, and if there's an air conditioner, that it be one with no CFCs. If chemical sensitivity is a concern for you, ask your real estate agent about developers that specialize in green homes.

If you have pets yourself, a yard again might be your priority. Although any yard can be fenced, if it's already done, all the better. Consider also the neighborhood. Are there dog parks nearby where Fido can run without a leash?

Whatever your needs are, there will undoubtedly be a home that is perfect for you. With patience and forethought, you're sure to find it.