Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you may make in your lifetime.  As such, it’s important to make sure it’s a good financial decision.  Below are the 9 things to do before buying a home.

Financial Situation: Buying a home for the first time is immensely exciting. However, you must also consider the overall financial situation and your budget before investing in any real estate or property. Consider your savings and how much you are willing to spend. Investigate the rates by doing research and determining the true costs of the real estate property in your target location. It’s in your best interest to hire a local realtor for the best results.

Location: When you are planning to buy an apartment or a house, location plays a vital role. Whether you wish to live in a serene suburb or a busy city is key to be a happy property owner. To properly judge an area, you can talk to the nearby residents. If you have children, then you must emphasize the proximity to schools nearby. You can also search for options like office, entertainment zones, shopping malls, and so on.

Request Help from a Trusted Realtor: Real estate agents are a crucial element in your home buying process because they serve to guide you.  They can help you find the right place that fits your specifications.  Furthermore, realtors have strong knowledge of the local market and can answer any questions you have.  Finally, they’re crucial to negotiating.  You don’t want to pay a high price unless you absolutely must.

Size of the House: Another important aspect that you need to consider while buying a home is the overall size. Look into the future of your family. If you are entering the stage of family planning, then you must consider a slightly bigger house with more rooms for your kids. As your family expands, you’ll also need room for more “stuff”.

Amenities: When it comes to buying your dream property, the set of amenities offered is key.  First, consider what’s important to you.  Do you want a swimming pool, in-house gym area, 24/7 security, camera surveillance?  Whether it’s a home or an apartment, just remember that you can always add these amenities later.  It shouldn’t be the deal breaker.

Safety of the Area:  The safety of your future neighborhood is especially important if you have kids.  What’s the crime rate?  What’s the level of police activity in the area?  Your realtor can provide you with this information.  A simple Google search will do the trick as well.

Right Mortgage: Once you have determined the total amount that you are willing to pay for a home, it’s time to consider the mortgage.  Call around for multiple quotes.  You’d be surprised at the variance after calling 3-4 different banks.

Negotiating:  Your realtor can help you estimate the value of the house and identify an appropriate offer to make the home owner.  Just make sure you’ve discussed a back-up plan in case they reject the initial offer.  There is a fine line between a great deal and a rip-off, so do your research on home prices in the area prior to submitting anything.

Inspect the Site: Visit the actual location and see for yourself.  Walk around the property to make sure it’s right for you.  You can learn a lot through Skype, the Internet, and over the phone, but nothing beats a visual.

As far as living in some of the best places in the United States of America is concerned, Arizona might not be a frequent suggestion in the list of several individuals out there. The environment factors have a lot to do with this judgment. However, if the hot, dry climate might not be a big concern for you and you wish to spend your life in a quiet, serene environment by the sides of The Grand Canyon, then Arizona is an ideal place to spend the rest of your life in.

Endless beautiful mountain ranges, palm trees giving place to the easy vibe of ecstatic rivers, sprawling lakes, and acres of free space, and mesmerizing beautiful sunsets –all of these natural factors make Arizona a dream living space for the nature & outdoor lovers. As such, it should not come as any surprise that Arizona is home to some of the most lavish & high-end resorts in the United States of America. In addition to its immense natural beauty, there are various other factors including the overall affordability, greater employment opportunities, world-class education, and limitless entertainment that make Arizona a worthwhile location to live in the US.

If you are looking for some residential options in Arizona, USA, then here are some of the top places that you can consider investing in real estate:

Gilbert: With a smaller population hovering over only the mark of 230,000, lower crime rates, greater home value, affordable healthcare & medical options, median household income, better public schools, and idyllic nature –with these add-ons, you will find Gilbert as one of the many best places to live in the countrywide list. With its close proximity to Phoenix, Gilbert in Arizona is one of the topmost areas in the region that tends to showcase the best that Arizona has to offer. With sprawling farmlands & fresh produce, The Grand Canyon, wineries, ancient ruins, arts market, golf courses, and so more –make your way to Gilbert in Arizona!

Scottsdale: This turns out to be one of the most complete places that you will ever come across in the United States. A land well-known for offering true contrasts, Scottsdale in Arizona is known for retaining its Wild West vibe along with its retro motto saying “The West’s Most Western Town”. Scottsdale is also an ultra-modern locality and has been ranked 8^th in the list of the best cities for launching a startup.

Chandler: With an overall population of around 250,000, Chandler in Arizona is a city that boasts perfectly woven family-friendly & cosmopolitan habitats. This is largely due to the presence of the award-winning school district along with the bustling downtown region of the place. As a home buyer, you would love the overall ambiance of Chandler because of its affordable housing options with plenty of room for spreading out. You can couple affordable living with top-notch security and top-class amenities –ranging from high-end restaurants to distinctive clinical excellence in the region.

Tempe: Once you go through a quick ride across Tempe, you will observe that this is definitely a city in Arizona, US that is remarkably on the rise. You can come across several major construction projects that are underway across the entire town. Leading tech giants ate tenting their way out in Tempe for expanding their operations. This would result in the overall increase in the earnings and will consequently enhance the overall economy of the region. Tempe is also known to be a hot-spot for the young students & aspirants with its suburbs brimming with single-family real estate properties & homes.

Mesa: A well-known thriving metropolis, Mesa in Arizona has a population of around 460,000 people. Mesa turns out to be a great place for those who are looking for big-city experiences. To top it all, Mesa offers a myriad of attractive home options –right from single-family homes to a completely modern townhouse with in-house high-tech amenities. Top-notch public schools, immense diversity all over, good housing options, amazing nightlife –Mesa is your go-to destination in Arizona and live there.

Glendale: If you are looking forward to living affordably in Arizona, then Glendale serves to be your ideal destination. Glendale is a city that perfectly fits all budgets. If you are particularly into sports like football or hockey, then Glendale is somewhere you would fall in love with. Home to the Phoenix Coyotes and Arizona Cardinals, Glendale is a perfect living destination in the US.