How to Choose the Right Home for Your Family to Fall in Love With

Many people aspire to move to New Orleans for its rich culture, unique cuisine and stunning architecture. You will never run out of things to do in the city. However, members of your household may have differing views on what makes the perfect residence. Here are a few things to consider as you search for your forever home in NOLA.

1. Look at Your Budget

Your budget should guide you in the right direction of purchasing a home in New Orleans. You should make a list of "must have" and "nice to have" features to so you don't fall in love with a house outside your budget. This means that a lender assesses your financial situation and decides how much they’ll lend you. Getting preapproved can help you make better decisions and have a firm spending plan to stick to.

2. Pick a Good Location

Think about how much walkability matters to your family. Do you want to be near the city's center so you can cut back on driving so much? Would your family prefer to be a bit farther away from the heart of New Orleans, likely saving on mortgage payments? Opting for a home higher on the walkability scale can help you decrease your carbon footprint. Other endeavors, like buying sustainable home decor, can make a difference in your life and the environment.

Consider where schools are located in your designated area if you want your child to attend a specific one. Similarly, you should factor in your commute to work. If your new home is close enough to walk to your workplace, would you do that or prefer to drive? Ask yourself the pros and cons of living within a certain location before deciding on it.

3. Picture What It Could Be

Some houses just aren't going to fit your family's style, and that's all right. You'll need to find a home that works perfectly for your family. If it's just you and a partner, a one-bedroom home could suit your needs well. You'll need multiple bedrooms if you want to optimize the house for a family of three or more. Features such as the number of rooms are often nonnegotiable.

However, plenty of other things about a house can be changed. Consider what the house’s exterior could be instead of what it is. You can enhance your new home's curb appeal by planting bushes or repainting a porch. Adding your own touch to the house will make it feel more like it's yours. Go into the homebuying process looking for what you can change.

4. Know the Potential Drawbacks

Your household members will likely ask about the drawbacks of living in New Orleans. For instance, the city's unpredictable weather can mean your home might suffer storm damage due to winds above 60 mph, which could set you back in your budget and ruin family plans.

However, these drawbacks don't mean you should stay away from NOLA. On the contrary, they are obstacles your family can overcome together. You can plan for indoor activities as a backup for when going outside isn't possible. All the good parts of living in New Orleans can make up for the bad, as with living in most locations. You just have to look for the silver

5. Determine When to Move

Consider tackling some DIYs that a fixer-upper might provide if it’s going to be a second home or you don't have a designated time to be out of your current location. DIY sales in 2022 reached over $43 billion, so you'll easily find a tutorial on any project you want to undertake.

Learning to DIY strengthens your problem-solving skills and challenges you in ways you never knew possible. If you're not much of a do-it-yourself person, consider price-checking the repairs or improvements you need with local contractors. If it seems cheaper to renovate than to buy a move-in-ready house, consider opting for the fixer-upper. Take them off your list if you don’t want to do the work.

Make the Most of Your Home

You likely will only find a house that checks all the boxes if you build it. However, you can find something that gets close. If you want to move to New Orleans like so many other people, you'll find something that has the bones you like and renovations you can complete to make it perfect for your family. You'll find something that everyone loves by determining what to look for early enough in the homebuying process.

*Written by Rose Morrison of renovated.com